Drivers warned to be alert for deer

Ohio saw about 21,000 vehicle-deer collisions last year

12/7/2013

COLUMBUS — Ohio’s transportation department is cautioning drivers to look out for increased deer movement along the roadways at this time of year.

The agency says that Ohio saw close to 21,000 vehicle collisions involving deer last year, which resulted in six deaths and more than 1,000 injuries. An unknown number of accidents involving deer also go unreported to law enforcement.

Counties with the highest number of reported deer-vehicle collisions were Stark County with 558; Richland County with 533; Hamilton County with 524; Clermont County with 470; and Lorain County with 470.

The Department of Transportation is urging motorists to drive cautiously where deer-crossing signs are posted and to watch for deer around sunrise and sunset. The department says more than half of collisions occur between 5 p.m. and midnight.