Tourist Killed By Bear In Yellowstone Identified As Torrance Resident

TORRANCE (CBS) — The tourist killed by a grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park has been indentified as 57-year-old Brian Matayoshi of Torrance.

Yellowstone park officials say Matayoshi was hiking with his wife Marylyn around 11 a.m. Wednesday when they came upon the female bear in an open meadow. The couple began to run, but the bear caught up with them and attacked Matayoshi.

Officials say the bear then attacked Marylyn Matayoshi who was lying on the ground. She sustained minor cuts and bruises. The bear then fled the area, according to the National Park Service.

Mrs. Matayoshi tried calling 911, but failed. Her shouts for help were heard by nearby hikers who contacted park rangers.

When rangers arrived on the scene at 11:30 a.m., Brian Matayoshi was dead, suffering from multiple bite and clawing injuries., the park service said.

An investigation concluded that the sow acted in defense to protect her cubs. Officials say the bear does not have a history of human interaction or attacks.

The last person to be killed by a bear in Yellowstone was in 1986.