KINGSTON -- Workers made a surprising find at a car dealership in Luzerne County: a big hawk stuck in the front bumper of a Ford Thunderbird.
The car came in on a delivery truck Monday when workers found the hawk peering out at them, still alive. They told us about their big effort trying to save the bird of prey.
It was a bird inside a bird: a red-tailed hawk stuck inside a Ford Thunderbird at Rayco Eurospec Motorcars in Kingston.
Take a look at what workers saw when they peered into the front bumper on Monday: that big bird looking right out at them, alive and needing help.
"It was insane, when I looked in the bumper and he turned his head and looked at me and blinked, that's when I knew we had to jump into action and do something about it," said Justin Kreller.
Salesman Justin Kreller says it all happened when the Thunderbird came perched on top of a car delivery truck.
"Right here is the crack where he broke the bumper," Kreller said, indicating where they saw the hawk.
The delivery truck driver thinks the hawk just crashed right in.
"That's right where he went through and he was rested right up underneath here, under the radiator," added Kreller.
"It was just staring out at us. We didn't know what to do, we didn't know what to make of it," said dealership employee George Haslin.
The workers took video of the rescue effort. They cut off the bottom of the bumper. An expert told them to cover the hawk with a towel, and very carefully, Kreller pulled it free.
"I was very nervous; the anxiety was at an all-time high. I was shaking a little bit, I was concerned for my fingers, but he was a good boy the whole time we had him."
Kreller posed with the bird once it was free.
When workers turned it over to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, it seemed to be doing OK, but when it went to a raptor rescue group in the Poconos, they determined it had injuries too great and had to be put down.
"I have to admit I was very upset when I heard he didn't make it, but we gave it the best chance possible, and he just didn't pass away alone in the car."
They know they tried and certainly don't look at the car the same way. They now call the Thunderbird the Thunderhawk.
"In 23 years of being in this business, this was by far the most bizarre," laughed Haslin.
It will cost the dealership about $1,200 to replace the bumper they had to cut out on the Thunderbird.
They said the car will be fine, they're just sad the hawk will not be.