Two women attacked by fox in Beverly

Kayla Doig, 22, suffered multiple leg bites.

A fox is being tested for rabies after two people in Beverly were attacked on Monday, authorities said.

In one attack, Kayla Doig, 22, was unloading groceries from a car when a fox charged at her from a neighbor’s driveway and latched onto her leg, her father said.

“It was relentless,’’ Bruce Doig said by telephone Tuesday night. “It would not stop.’’

Doig said he went back into his truck to find something to hit the fox with, but the animal ran away before he returned.

“It was pretty crazy,’’ Doig said.

When Doig called Beverly police to report the attack, he learned his daughter wasn’t the only person to be attacked by a fox in the North Shore city.

Another woman was bit by a fox on East Street at about 4 p.m., said Officer Mike Boccuzzi, a spokesman for Beverly police.

It is unclear if the same fox bit the two women. Boccuzzi said he could not comment on the injuries suffered by the second woman.

On Tuesday, a fox was struck and killed by a truck on East Street at about 10 a.m. Boccuzzi said.

The animal is being tested for rabies. The two incidents are under investigation, Boccuzzi said.

A spokeswoman for the state Department of Public Health said Tuesday they will be looking into the matter.

As a precaution, Kayla Doig started treatment for rabies at Beverly Hospital Monday night, Doig said.

“She has to go back three times over the next ten days for more [shots],’’ Doig said.

Doig is hopeful that the slain fox is the same one that bit his daughter.

“We’re hoping this is the one,’’ Doig said. “And we’re hoping it’s gone.’’