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| Car Versus Deer Crashes Down; But Officials Say Stay Alert |
Crashes involving vehicles and deer declined last year in Illinois.
Numbers from the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources show the total of 24,212 car versus deer mishaps is down 3 percent compared to 2007. The agencies say the number of motorists hurt in crashes with deer is also down - from 843 in 2007 to 758 last year. There were two fatalities: one in St. Clair County and the other in Kane County.
DNR spokesman Chris McCloud says a decline in driving of about four percent is likely behind the fewer crashes and injuries.
Fulton County was 10th in the state with 431 deer-vehicle accidents. Peoria County was second and Cook County led the state. Locally, Knox County reported 132 vehicle accidents with deer, resulting in 14 people hurt. The crashes in Fulton County injured 11 people. Warren County had 155 car versus deer collisions that injured nine people.
McCloud says deer have their favorite spots. "If you're in an area where you've seen deer before, that's probably a pretty good bet that you're going to see them again," McCloud said. "In those particular areas, make sure that you slow down, reduce your speed."
McCloud says deer are most active during dawn and dusk, especially in fall. He says motorists should be especially alert when driving to and from work, and always buckle up.
Henry County had the second highest number of car-deer crashes in the area behind Fulton County with 262. McDonough County was next with 234 and Henderson County had 145. The accidents in those three counties injured 14 people. |
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| 10 19 09 by Newsroom |
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