By SUSAN BERG

Managing editor

According to State Farm Insurance, there’s a 1-in-172 chance that a motorist driving Kansas highways and byways will meet up with a deer as it crosses the road, based on 2 million drivers in the state.

West Virginia drivers have the highest probability of crashes — 1-in-42, followed by Iowa, 1-in-67.

According to Kansas Department of Transportation, deer accidents in 2009 were up slightly compared to previous years.

Even though Kansas is not ranked in the top 10 in the country for the most deer-car crashes, Marion County motorists are familiar with the possibility of such crashes occurring.

So far this year, there have been 279 crashes reported by local law enforcement officials in Marion County. Of those accidents, 110 were car vs. deer, with at least two accidents per month throughout the year. Fortunately, there was only one injury.

The fewest car-deer crashes were in August with 2; February and July had 3; April, 4; March and September, 6; January, 9; May, 10; October, 12; June, 13; November, 19; and December has the most at 21 — with a week yet to go.

The time of day with the highest number of crashes, 14, was 6 p.m. There were 11 crashes at 9 p.m. and 10 each at 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. There were crashes at every hour — night and day — except 4 a.m. and 4 p.m. The fewest crashes occurred at 2 and 3 a.m., probably because there was less traffic at those times, and 2 and 3 p.m.

The road with the highest number of crashes was U.S. 56 with 24. The next highest was 14 accidents near Wagonwheel Road, many on U.S. 50, 11 on Remington Road on U.S. 56, and 10 on 290th Road.

Accidents with deer cause about $3.5 billion in damages nationwide, not counting deductibles vehicle owners have to pay to repair their vehicles.