“The biggest comment that I hear is, ‘They came out of nowhere. It’s like they dropped out of the sky,’” Bartram said.
Last year, 20,201 collisions with deer were reported in the state, down 3.8 percent from 2012, according to Ohio Department of Public Safety statistics. Butler County was among area counties bucking the statewide trend with an increase in deer strikes — 335 — up from 305 in 2012
Deer don’t fall out of the sky, but they often spring quickly from the side of the road, said Lt. Douglas Eck, a commander with the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
“When you see signs of these animals you need to be slowing down and anticipating their movement,” Eck said. “You can’t necessarily keep them from jumping out into your path but you may be able to slow down to the point where you can avoid hitting them.”
Most deer strikes happen around dawn and again at dusk, Eck said. The loss of a food source and cover for deer due to the fall harvest also contributes to accidents this time of year, he said.
While motorists in Ohio collided with fewer deer last year, nationally the state still ranks in the top half of states in deer strikes. Deer-vehicle collisions in Ohio resulted in eight deaths and 968 injuries in 2013, according to the Ohio Department of Public Safety.
The state ranked 21st in the nation with a 1 in 127 chance a motorist hit a deer last year, according to State Farm Insurance. Drivers in West Virginia were most likely to hit a deer with a 1 in 38 chance. The lowest odds of hitting a deer in the continental states — 1 in 1,270 — went to Arizona drivers. Hawaii drivers have the lowest probability of hitting a deer with a 1 in 6,787 chance.
Bartram said he once deemed a three-year-old Lincoln Navigator involved in a deer strike totaled for insurance purposes because repairs would run more than the value of the vehicle, he said. The average repair in his shop for a deer strike runs about $3,282. The national average for a deer collision vehicle repair in 2013 was $3,414 according to State Farm Insurance.
Eck said another way to avoid hitting deer is to keep headlights on, and to avoid injury always wear safety belts.
Authorities and Bartram caution against swerving to miss a deer.
“A few customers tried to swerve to miss a deer and hit a pole – causing more damage – or hit another vehicle going left of center,” Bartram said.
A driver hitting a deer should pull off the road if possible and turn on their flashers, then call 911 or local authorities, Eck said. The caller should tell the dispatcher the location, whether injuries are involved, and whether the animal is still at the scene.
Never approach an animal if injured and still alive, Eck advises.
“These are wild animals and especially if injured they can be very dangerous. They have sharp hooves. They can kick you. The males have antlers and can gore you,” Eck said. “It’s best to stay clear of them.”
Staff Writer Eric Robinette contributed to this report.
About the Author