Rock Island County in state’s top ten for deer crashes

Fall is upon us and that has the state warning motorists to be on the lookout for deer. In 2010 there were 10,232 total deer related accidents, and by 2014 that number had fallen to 9,607.

If you are involved in a deer-related crash, you are advised to pull over to a safe location and turn on flashers. Although crashes involving deer occur throughout the year in every Kansas county, the highest number of crashes typically occur where there are the most vehicles. The highest number of deer related crashes was recorded in 2013 with nine deaths.

KDOT also reports that there have been more than forty-eight thousand deer involved accidents in the state within the last five year, twenty-two of which were fatal. According to the agency officials, previous year there were more 15,000 instances in which motor vehicles crashed into deer – with almost half of them coming in October, November and December.

KHP cautions all drivers to take extra-ordinary measures to avoid striking a deer.

Officials say if a deer jumps in front a vehicle, it’s best to keep driving and avoid swerving, even if it means hitting the deer. Law enforcement will arrange to have the animal removed from the road when they arrive. However, only law enforcement officers are permitted to kill a deer that has been injured by a crash.

To report a crash on Kansas highways from a cellular phone, call *47 (*HP) for a highway patrol dispatcher or *582 (*KTA) for assistance on the Kansas Turnpike. Also in the top ten, Will County with 401 crashes, Lake County with 324 and Kane County with 319.