Photo previously taken on July 12, 2017.

The same black bear that was seen in Mahaska and Poweshiek Counties within the last few months is suspected to be dead.

Officials say that the black bear spotted several times in both Mahaska and Powesheik County was likely the same bear struck and killed by a car on Interstate 80 near Victor Thursday night.

Authorities say a 27-year-old Texas man was driving west on Interstate 80 shortly before 9:30 Thursday night when his minivan hit the bear.

The driver of the minivan wasn’t hurt and neither was his passenger, but the 250-pound bear died instantly. The van wound up in a ditch and had to be towed away.