(dpa) - The car of the defence minister of the Baltic nation of Estonia, Jaak Aaviksoo, collided with a bear Wednesday. Hunters later shot the bear, local media reported.
No one was hurt in the accident on Wednesday morning on a highway from the southern Estonian town of Tartu to the town of Paide in central Estonia.
"Aaviksoo was is the back seat of the Audi A6 at the time of the accident, had his seat belt fastened and was reading a book," Riina Vandre, adviser to the minister, told Baltic News Service.
The injured bear managed to cross the road after the accident, which occurred in the part of the country dominated by forests where 500-600 bears live.
Accidents involving bears are very rare, with one or two reports every year.