VA Man Dies After Bear Falls From Tree, Lands On Him

LUNENBURG COUNTY, VA — A Virginia man is dead after officials said a bear fell from a tree and landed on him, according to state wildlife authorities.

The mishap occurred shortly before 10 a.m. on Dec. 9 in Lunenburg County, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources said in a statement. Officials said a hunting group was following the bear when it ran up a tree.

Investigators said as the group was leaving, one of the hunters shot the bear, causing it to fall on top of 58-year-old Lester C. Harvey, who was standing about 10 feet from the bottom of the tree.

"A member of the hunting group rendered first aid until local fire and EMS arrived on scene," wildlife resources spokesperson Shelby Crouch told Patch on Tuesday.

Harvey was taken to a local hospital and eventually transferred to VCU Medical Center, where he died on Friday.

No charges will be filed in connection with the incident, officials said.

According to an obituary for Harvey, he was an "avid outdoorsman" and a self-employed contractor from the town of Phenix in Charlotte County. He is survived by his wife, three sons, two daughters and eight grandchildren. His funeral is scheduled for Thursday.