In a Startling Incident on US 74: Driver Says Bald Eagle Dropped a Cat Through Her Windshield

In a Startling Incident on US 74: Driver Says Bald Eagle Dropped a Cat Through Her Windshield

A routine Thursday morning drive in Swain County, North Carolina, turned into a surreal and frightening moment for one woman who says she was struck by something she never could have imagined—a cat dropped through her windshield by a bald eagle soaring overhead.

According to officials with the North Carolina Highway Patrol, the incident occurred around 8:15 a.m. as the woman traveled along US 74, a stretch of road surrounded by the thick forests and rugged mountains of western North Carolina. The driver reported that she was moving at normal highway speed when she suddenly saw a large shadow sweeping across the sky. Before she had time to react, an object crashed violently through her windshield, sending shards of glass across her dashboard.

It wasn’t until the vehicle came to a stop that the shocking truth became clear: the object was a cat, and troopers believe it had been dropped by a bald eagle flying above the roadway. In the wild, bald eagles are known to hunt small animals, and they often carry their prey to feed elsewhere. Troopers on the scene said this appears to be exactly what happened—only this time, the eagle lost its grasp directly above a moving vehicle.

Miraculously, despite the force of the impact and the destruction to her windshield, the driver walked away without injury. Authorities noted that she was shaken but physically unharmed. Sadly, the cat did not survive the fall.

Highway Patrol officials emphasized how extraordinarily rare this type of incident is, noting that while wildlife encounters are common in the region, they seldom unfold with this kind of dramatic and unpredictable chain of events. The mountainous areas of Swain County, home to diverse wildlife and close to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, frequently see deer, bears, raccoons, and birds of prey near roadways—but a bald eagle dropping prey onto a car is nearly unheard of.

Troopers ensured the roadway remained safe for other drivers, and the woman’s vehicle was towed for repairs due to the extensive windshield damage. No other vehicles were involved, and no additional injuries were reported.

As unusual and unsettling as the situation was, officials say the driver is fortunate. A sudden impact of that size and speed can easily lead to loss of control or serious injury. Her ability to maintain her lane and safely stop the car likely prevented the situation from becoming far worse