Police blame car crash on flying cicada that hit driver in face

Police in Cincinnati said a vehicle crashed this week after a cicada flew into the car through an open window.

The Cincinnati Police Department said that a single car drove into a pole on Monday after a cicada “flew in through an open window striking the driver in the face.”

The police department also included images of the crash on social media.

#Crash single car into a pole at 2600 Riverside Drive. Caused by a cicada that flew in through an open window striking the driver in the face. #nothinggoodhappenswithcicadas #cicadas2021 pic.twitter.com/0WWUM8y5Ye

— Cincinnati Police Department (@CincyPD) June 7, 2021

The driver sustained minor injuries, the Cincinnati Police Department confirmed to The Hill. 

Reporters and other social media users were quick to react on Twitter, sharing advice for drivers and commiserating with the driver in the crash.

Yikes! Keep your windows closed. https://t.co/IOjbZlWbkX

— Mollie Lair (@mlairwlwt) June 7, 2021

Honestly….. I understand. ‍♂️ https://t.co/seR3BQsACE

— DaLaun Dillard (@DDillardTV) June 8, 2021

Please don’t let this be you!#Cicadas #BroodX https://t.co/kJlDE9EBeM

— Kelly Rippin WLWT (@KellyRippin) June 8, 2021

This is not the first safety-related warning officials have issued over cicadas recently. The Food and Drug Administration last week warned that people with seafood allergies should not eat the bugs. 

Trillions of Brood X cicadas are emerging from below ground and swarming in Washington, D.C., and 15 states across the eastern U.S. The insects spend 17 years of their life underground before emerging to breed and lay eggs, though there are varying generations and cycles of the insects.

Updated: June 9 at 12:10 p.m.