BRYSON CITY, NC – A driver in western North Carolina escaped injury Wednesday morning after an unusual midair mishap sent a cat carcass crashing through her car’s windshield along a highway near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The incident happened on U.S. Route 74 in Swain County when the motorist reported that a bald eagle dropped the animal onto her moving vehicle.
The impact shattered the passenger side of the windshield, but the driver was unharmed.
Key Points
- A bald eagle reportedly dropped a cat carcass onto a car traveling on U.S. Route 74 near Bryson City.
- The cat struck the windshield, shattering it, but the driver was not injured.
- The driver reported the bizarre event in a 911 call that has since gained attention for its unusual nature.
911 call captures the bizarre moment
In a recorded 911 call, the unidentified woman told a dispatcher, “You may not believe me, but I just had a bald eagle drop a cat through my windshield.” The dispatcher replied with calm disbelief, saying, “OK. I do believe you, honestly,” followed by laughter.
The caller explained that another driver witnessed the same event and called it “the craziest thing” he had ever seen.
Patrol dispatched to document incident
After confirming the woman’s location, the dispatcher said the North Carolina Highway Patrol would respond to file a report. The caller said the cat was dead but lying on the side of the road, not inside her car.
Authorities have not commented on the incident, and it remains unclear whether the bald eagle accidentally dropped its prey or discarded it intentionally.