McCandless community outraged after family of geese run over by driver
Many people in the McCandless community are outraged and speaking out on social media after a family of geese was run over by a driver outside of a shopping center.
A witness who captured the moment on camera said she believes the driver did it on purpose. The Pennsylvania Game Commission confirmed on Wednesday that the agency is investigating along with McCandless police.
McCandless driver runs over geese
Diane Bandy had just left the Target store in McCandless shortly after 9 p.m. on Sunday and was delighted to see a mother goose and four goslings in the parking lot.
"I just decided to whip out my cell phone and take some footage. And it started off very happy. I was admiring the goslings," Bandy said.
The family of geese then waddled onto Blazier Drive.
"I witnessed a very cruel, sadistic and malicious act when this Ford Explorer, I could hear him revving up the car, just a second, literally a second later, he plowed into them," Bandy said.
Witness calls for answers after geese run over in McCandless
Bandy couldn't believe her eyes.
"I was just in shock, and I was screaming at the driver. And the driver had his window down. So, you know, he heard me. He just kind of looked around because he heard me shouting at him. He just sped up and left," she said.
Bandy said she believes two of the goslings didn't survive, including one that was fatally injured and a second that couldn't be found.
"The mother goose and the goslings, the two goslings that were living, stayed around on Blazier Drive, and it caused quite a scene. There were a lot of people who stopped," Bandy said. "Just to see the mother staring at us and retracing her steps, and going back and forth in the parking lot, and circling in the parking lot to try to recover her newborn. I just don't know why anybody wouldn't want to protect the most innocent and voiceless in society."
Someone close to the driver told KDKA that the collision with the geese was an accident. KDKA is not identifying the driver because they have not been charged.
Bandy said before the incident happened, other drivers were avoiding the geese and swerving around them. Canada geese are migratory birds and protected under state and federal law.
Bandy said she spoke with the McCandless Police Department and gave them all the information she had. She wants to see the driver come forward and charges to be filed against him.
"A thorough investigation. I would check the traffic light cameras. ... I would like an admission from him of guilt, actually. But I don't think he's going to admit guilt," Bandy said.
"I'm just burning up inside because of the anger I feel for what happened, and it was so preventable. He had plenty of time to see them and slow down, but there was no slowing down or stopping," she said.
A source close to the driver said the driver is extremely sorry for the situation and didn't realize any geese were killed, as they saw geese walking away from the incident. They have allegedly had people showing up at their workplace, harassing them over the incident.
The Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania calls the whole situation disappointing.
"They've got enough challenges in the world right now between natural predators, finding a place to nest and raising young," said Jim Bonner, executive director of the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania.
It is common to see birds like geese out with their little ones right now, as it is breeding season. Drivers are asked to pay extra attention on the roads.
"If you were to hit or strike a bird while driving, you are not going to have the Game Commission, local authorities or federal authorities prosecuting you. But to do something purposely, there's a chance you can be," Bonner said.
