East Lyme ― A car struck a bear on Route 161 on Wednesday evening, causing heavy damage to the vehicle but no injuries to the driver, police said.

The crash occurred near the Winston Road intersection. Police said witnesses described the bear as weighing about 300 pounds and said it ran down Winston Road after the collision. The male driver, the only occupant in the vehicle, was uninjured. The car was towed from the scene after sustaining heavy front-end damage.

State Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Conservation Police were called to assist, however the bear was not located, police said.

Police Sgt. Bruce Babcock said police have received no calls of bear sightings in that area this year. In the past, sporadic reports of bear sightings have been made, but it is unusual in the heavy traffic area of Route 161, also known as Chesterfield Road.