Its unfortunate this happened, and buddy likely knew better but had a lapse in judgement, but fruit tree in the back yard, alone, no cell service/landline, confronts, possibly surprises, a bear in spring/early summer, at least he didn't have garbage in the backyard. Would you have sympathy for someone involved in an accident driving the wrong way on Hwy 2?
Side note, I can't get this image out of my head when reading that story: