Cicadas blamed for crash that left car on its side

Cicada season is in full swing in some parts of the U.S., and they’re doing more than just buzzing loudly in the trees. 

A police department in Ohio shared a photo on Facebook of a car that had rolled on its side while driving. They said cicadas were the culprit.

Blue Ash cicada crash

What they're saying:

"We're all well aware that these pesky cicadas don't respect personal space, including while driving," the Blue Ash Police Department said on its Facebook page. "It may be a good idea to keep the windows up for the next several weeks. As you can see, a cicada attack can be dangerous. 

READ MORE: ‘Jaws’ was fiction; this was the terrifying true story

Fortunately, no one was injured, but police joked that the suspect fled the scene."

Brood XIV cicadas 

The backstory:

This year, the cohort of cicadas known as "Brood XIV" has emerged from the ground to look for mates, according to FOX Weather. 

They’ve been spotted in several states, including Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina. 

The buzzing sound cicadas are known for is actually part of this courtship ritual, as the males produce the noise to attract females.

While this cicada phenomenon occurs every year, for Brood XIV and many other cicadas, it’s a small part of multiyear, multigenerational cycles that are connected to geography, the seasons and the weather.

The cicadas of Brood XIV emerge from the ground every 17 years. This means that the last time they saw the Sun, President George W. Bush was nearing the end of his presidency and Apple was about to launch the App Store.