Bear brings traffic to a halt on busy Southern California freeway

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By Yosi Yahoudai
Founder and Managing Partner

A bear brought motorists to a stop in Santa Clarita on Tuesday evening when it wandered onto a busy freeway and paused to look around.

The traffic-snarling omnivore was spotted shortly after 7 p.m. on the 14 Freeway near Newhall Avenue.

Video recorded by @dan-kanes and shared with KTLA shows the bear walking on the freeway, looking around and then turning back toward the hills.

A bear is seen wandering on the 14 Freeway in Santa Clarita on May 14, 2024. (@dan_kanes/@atlaslensco via Instagram)

“Motorists displayed compassion and patience for the bear,” said Kanes, who described the bear as looking “a little confused.”

KTLA Morning News anchor Chris Schauble said he was stuck in the backup after being alerted by his daughter.

“So, I’m leaving the gym and sure enough it’s nuts out there … I thought, ‘Oh there was an accident,’ I had no idea it was a bear,” he said. 

Wildlife experts say spring is the time of year that bears leave their winter dens in search of food.

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About the Author
Yosi Yahoudai is a founder and the managing partner of J&Y. His practice is comprised primarily of cases involving automobile and motorcycle accidents, but he also represents people in premises liability lawsuits, including suits alleging dangerous conditions of public property, third-party criminal conduct, and intentional torts. He also has expertise in cases involving product defects, dog bites, elder abuse, and sexual assault. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of California and is admitted to practice in all California State Courts, and the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. If you have any questions about this article, you can contact Yosi by clicking here.