Deer crashes break record, rise 16%
Staff writer
Forty-five years ago, three wrecks involving deer in a single week made headlines in Marion County.
This past week, the county logged more than six times that many — a record 19.
And it wasn’t just a one-week thing. The previous week, the county logged a near-record 15.
In only one other week this decade — the last week of November last year — have more than 10 deer crashes been reported in the county.
In the 12 months that ended last week, the county had a record 174 deer crashes, according to Record analysis of accident reports released by police and sheriff’s deputies.
That’s a 16% increase over the previous 12 months and 29% more than were recorded four years ago.
The number has increased steadily throughout the decade and now accounts for 46% of all wrecks investigated in the county.
Statewide, deer strikes accounted for 39% of accidents last year.
Only two people were taken to hospitals after county deer crashes in the past two weeks — one of them because he lost control of his vehicle and crashed it into a ditch while trying to avoid a deer.
However, 38% of the deer crashes in the past two weeks have been serious enough that the vehicles involved had to be towed. In one case, the vehicle was listed as a total loss.
The 34 crashes reported in the past two weeks have occurred throughout the county, but some areas seem more susceptible than others:
- US-56/77 at the north end of the county and north of the US-56/77/K-150 roundabout.
- K-15 at the south end of the county.
- K-256 from Marion east to Upland Rd. and south to the county lake.
- Roads north and west of Marion in an area roughly bounded by Limestone Rd., Remington Rd., 120th Rd., and US-56.
A complete list of this past week’s accidents appears on the For the Record page.
No fatalities were reported in the county, but five people were killed, and 674 were injured statewide last year.
Nationwide, Kansas recorded the fourth highest percentage of animal-related highway fatalities between 2018 and 2023, the most recent year for which data are available.
Serious crashes are most likely to occur when drivers swerve to avoid deer, according to Kansas Highway Patrol.
Troopers recommend braking firmly but staying in your lane if you encounter a deer. Leaving your lane can cause you to veer into oncoming traffic, run off the road, or hit objects and overturn.
No locations or times of day are safe, according to Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.
Even in areas with few deer, seasonal changes and mating season, currently under way, can bring deer onto roads day or night.
Drivers are urged to slow down and remain especially alert around dawn and dusk and when driving through wooded areas or areas near water sources.
Deer rarely travel alone. If you see one, be mindful that others you don’t see might be nearby.
Troopers urge drivers to use high-beam headlights whenever allowed. Light reflecting from the eyes of deer may be drivers’ best way to see them.
According to AAA Kansas, the average insurance claim for a deer strike last year was $8,430, more than double what it was five years ago.
Drivers with only state-mandated liability coverage pay the entire bill themselves.
Deer crashes must be reported to police, state troopers, or sheriff’s deputies if anyone is injured or damages are likely to total $1,000 or more.