Bigfoot Impersonator Struck and Killed by Drivers
A Montana man was killed on Sunday night while impersonating the mythical creature Bigfoot. Randy Lee Tenley was struck and killed by two drivers as he stood in the middle of the road at night.
He was dressed in head-to-toe camouflage meant to make him look like Bigfoot, a mythical creature whose existence has never been proven but has nevertheless captured the imagination of the public. Many have claimed to have seen Bigfoot, but their claims are frequently denied or proven false.
"The camouflage suit was dark and subdued," explained Patrol Trooper Jim Schneider. "It's designed to break up a silhouette and blend in with your surroundings. It definitely hindered the ability of people to see him on the highway," Schneider told the Missoulian.
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The first car struck Tenley and knocked him down, and the second car rolled over his body. He suffered massive trauma and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police believe alcohol may have been involved, but tests have not yet confirmed that Tenley was intoxicated at the time.
The two drivers were not cited for the accident, but a passenger in one of the vehicles was taken to the hospital and treated for minor injuries. Tenley's friends reportedly told Schneider that he was a fan of Bigfoot and wanted to convince others of his existence.
"We can only speculate as to his exact intentions, but according to another member of his party, his intention was to get people to believe they saw a Sasquatch. It is a bizarre set of circumstances and it is certainly tragic," Schneider added.
Tenley is certainly not the first to try and convince the public of Bigfoot's existence. In 2008, impersonator Lucas Pugh went missing while dressed as the Sasquatch. He was found one week later and admitted to being intoxicated at the time of his disappearance.
"A man has a couple drinks and takes to the woods for a few days in his Bigfoot suit … What's the big deal?" he asked reporters when found.
