Vehicle collisions involving wildlife may be on the rise

Deer and turkeys darting in the path of motorists on local roadways caused four accidents over the weekend, including one that left a motorcyclist injured.

John Kassen, 17, was riding a motorcycle east on Kansas Highway 31 about one mile west of 155th St., shortly after 9 a.m. Sunday when a wild turkey darted into his path, Bourbon County Deputy Sheriff John Taylor said.

The Bronson resident attempted to avoid the bird but instead lost control of the 2000 Triumph bike. He was thrown off the motorcycle, Taylor said. A family member transported Kassen to Mercy Health Center, where he was treated for a possible broken arm and numerous cuts and abrasions from the wreck, he said.

Around 3 p.m. Sunday, Tiffany Clarkson, 17, of Fort Scott, traveled north on 187th Terrace when a deer bolted in front of her vehicle. She swerved to avoid it but ran off the east side of the road, striking a group of cedar trees. Taylor said she was not injured in the accident.

Around 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Jake Chapman, of Avondale, Ariz., was driving south on U.S. Highway 69 near the Soldier Road exit when a turkey vulture, sometimes called turkey buzzard, slammed into his windshield on his 2000 Chevrolet Malibu. The windshield caved in but did not shatter, Taylor said. However, the collision forced Chapman, who was traveling to Pittsburg to visit family, to pull over and have the vehicle towed. He was uninjured.

The fourth accident happened on U.S. 69 near Wagon Road. Lyon Vinson was driving a 2007 Freightliner truck and trailer when a deer attempted to cross the road in front of him. He struck the deer, tearing it to pieces. Vinson was not hurt, Taylor said. However, the deer managed to take out the truck's radiator, making the vehicle inoperable. It had to be towed.

Lloyd Fox, a big game coordinator for Kansas Wildlife and Parks, said it's the peak breeding time for turkeys. That means the birds are on the run and will more likely to cross roadways, Fox said.

Deer breeding season is not happening right now, Fox said, so the animals are not running as they would in mid-November.

Safety experts recommend if an animal crosses in front of your vehicle, do not swerve to avoid the collision. Swerving causes the motorist often to overcorrect and lose control of the vehicle. That can result in a collision with a tree, a bridge abutment, or some other stationary object -- which is more likely to cause human injury or death. It is better to strike the animal.

Fox said wild animals near roads are even more unpredictable than small children playing along roads. If drivers see animals milling around on the side of the road, they should slow down and exercise caution.