2 women critically injured, teen hurt in bear attack near Dawson Creek, B.C.

Two women were critically injured by a black bear just after sunset Mondayon atrailnear Dawson Creek, B.C., local police say.

Conservation officials say a teenage boy was also hurt after the bear charged a family of four walking on the Bear Mountain Nordic Ski Association trails,about sixkilometresfrom the city in the northeast of the province.

Police say rescue teams and RCMPwere called to the areaand searched the 23-kilometre network of forested trails for an hour after receiving reports of the attack.

With darkness coming on, police say two RCMP officers inan all-terrain vehicle found the two women lying in the bush with life-threatening injuries.

Staff Sgt. Damon Werrell, detachment commander of the Dawson Creek RCMP, saidthe officersshot and killed a large boar black bear nearbythat appeared to be "guarding the victims."

In a written post, the Conservation Officer Service said the family was chased by the bear after it charged them, and it attacked one of the women.

The second woman and a teenage boy were injured trying to help her.

The conservation servicesays the boy was swatted by the bear but was able to leave the area to get help.

RCMPCpl. Madonna Saunderson said amember of the family was able to call police.

South Peace Search and Rescue volunteers helpedtransport the women, aged 30 and 48, out of the bush to paramedics.

One of the women was airlifted to hospital in Edmonton. The other woman and the teenager were taken to hospital in Dawson Creek.

Officials say conservation officers didn't locate any other bears in the area, and will conduct a necropsy on the bear that was shot.

RCMP saidpeople inthe back country should carry bear spray, travel in groupsand avoid hiking during sunrise and sunset, when bears will be most active.

The Bear Mountain Nordic Ski Association maintains trailsfor hiking, cross-country running, wildlife watching, mountain bikingand horseback riding in the summer. The trails have been closed to the publicsince the attack.