Minnesota Driver Has Surprise Passenger Stuck In Truck’s Grille

A Minnesota woman was enjoying her drive to church when an unexpected passenger decided to hitch a ride with her.

Minnesota resident Cindy Vagle was driving along Highway 59 when she noticed our country's national bird, a bald eagle, was on the side of the road. Little did she know that this bald eagle wanted to come along for the ride!

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Our news partners at Dakota News Now is reporting that Cindy Vagle was driving for miles until she finally noticed the bald eagle was caught in her truck's grille.

Before the eagle was caught in the truck's grille, Cindy Vagle was driving about four miles outside Lake Bronson when she first encountered the nation's bird enjoying some breakfast. She kept her distance and didn't want to disturb the bird.

“I slowed way down, and then all of a sudden, it flew right up and flew in front of the truck and I didn’t see it no more. I looked for it in my mirrors and I didn’t see it on the road or anything.”

It turns out, this "Dang bird" got too close to Cindy's truck and got his feet caught in the truck's grille. If it wasn't for a big thump, Cindy would have kept on driving.

“Very beautiful, but just hanging there, moving its head side to side just looking at me. I was like, ‘Oh, I better not too close to that thing because it had quite the beak.’ I knew that thing would hurt you if you got close to it, so I stayed back.”

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources arrived at the scene to help free the eagle. The good news? He was going to be okay and did not appear to be injured!  Additional details can be found here.

What are you supposed to do if you hit a bald eagle?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recommends reporting this incident right away and notifying local police or sheriff's department, or a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Oh..and don't touch or move the eagle.

Cindy did the right thing by calling the police and letting the authorities save the bald eagle!