(WESH/NBC) A Florida Highway Patrol trooper helped save a bald eagle after it was hit by a jeep on Florida’s Turnpike in Osceola County.
Dash-cam video shows Trooper Julio Velez driving toward the eagle, which can be seen sitting on the shoulder.
Velez then gets out of his car, picks up the bird and puts it in the back of his patrol car.
The eagle stayed put while Velez drove it to animal control.
The bird did not have any broken bones, and experts believe it will likely fly free again.
Velez received a few scrapes and a scar from the incident, but had no regrets about rescuing the eagle.
"He received several puncture wounds to his arm, those talons I'm sure are pretty sharp. But he repositioned, bear hugged the eagle and was able to get into the car," said Sgt. Kim Montes wit the Florida Highway Patrol.
Courtesy WESH via NBC News Channel
