Turkey crashes into police car

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BELLEVILLE, Ill., April 8 (UPI) -- Police in Illinois said a wild turkey crashed into the side of a patrol car on its way to a call, causing about $700 worth of damage to the vehicle.

Belleville police said officer Anthony Branchini was responding to a call about a suspected intoxicated driver just before 7:30 a.m. Tuesday when the massive bird smashed into the side of his patrol car on Illinois 15, the Belleville News-Democrat reported Thursday.

"It literally flew into the side, by the tire and the mirror," Capt. Don Sax said. "I would say it's a freak accident, what's commonly referred to as an act of God."

Sax said damage to the car included a dent in the side and the complete removal of the passenger-side mirror.

"It's not much anybody can do," Sax said. "Wildlife moves around. You hit rabbits and squirrels and groundhogs and raccoons and whatever else all the time."

He said the officer was not injured in the incident and the turkey was also apparently OK.

"Nobody got hurt," Sax said. "The turkey obviously wandered off."