300-pound gator struck by vehicle on Grand Parkway in Montgomery County

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- A driver was unharmed after a wild encounter with an alligator in the middle of a Montgomery County road overnight.

It happened on the Grand Parkway over the San Jacinto River around 3 a.m. Thursday.

The driver was eastbound on the parkway when he struck the gator, leaving extensive damage to his vehicle.

RELATED: Alligator creates traffic delay on Fred Hartman Bridge

The reptile, believed to be 300 pounds, was around 10 feet long and was killed in the crash. The man continued driving after hitting it, but eventually had to pull over due to the damage to the vehicle.

Crews loaded the dead gator on the back of a tow truck. It will be disposed of later. The driver said his car now needs major repairs.

While alligators were once endangered in Texas, they are a common sight and were removed from the endangered species list in 1985. They're still protected by state law though.

Gators are considered a nuisance and should be reported to authorities if they're in the roadway, if they repeatedly follow watercraft or maintain a close distance without submerging or if they approach humans.

To report a nuisance alligator, contact your local game warden at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department or your local law enforcement agency.