Deer season opens: Be aware, 'slow down'

Claremore Daily Progress, Okla.
·2 min read
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Oct. 4—The first day of deer season, Sunday, Oct. 1, saw a fatality collision between two vehicles and a deer on US-169 near Lenapah, Nowata County which is north of Rogers County.

While deer crossing roadways is always a concern in rural areas, this time of year through January is especially hazardous as deer begin moving about as the season changes, driving patterns change with daylight savings time, food supplies decrease, hunting season commences along with the onset of mating season.

AARP reports state there are an estimated 2.1 million deer-vehicle collisions (DVCs), on average, in the United States each year, killing about 440 people and causing 59,000 injuries, according to the researchers.

Carolyn Howard, 72, a South Coffeyville resident, became on such victim Sunday evening. Howard was killed when a random deer was hit in the roadway by another oncoming vehicle then deflected into the windshield of Howard's vehicle and traveled through her automobile exiting through the rear window.

The roadway was dry. The weather was clear and seatbelts were in use.

The fatality collision between the two vehicles and the deer happened around 7:25 p.m. on US-169, just south of East 800 in Nowata County, five miles north of Lenapah.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol reports state the first vehicle, driven by Natalie Kelley, 48, Owasso, encountered the deer while traveling south on US-169. Howard's vehicle was traveling north. Kelley was not injured.

Nowata EMS responded to the collision scene.

Sunday's collision was investigated by Trooper Luke Hall, 542, and was assisted by FTO Trooper Mitch Callahan, 293, both of the Washington County Detachment of Troop L. The Nowata County Sheriff's Office, Lenapah Fire Department and Nowata Fire and EMS responded.

The OSU Extension Office offers these hints for safer driving this time of year:

If you see a deer, slow down. Do not swerve into other cars.

If you hit an animal, pull to the side of the road when it's safe and make sure the vehicle isn't hazardous to drive. Use hazard lights and watch out for traffic.

If an injured deer is clearly still alive, do not approach it or touch the animal. Call an Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation game warden for guidance.

If a deer's body is a road hazard, call the Oklahoma Highway Patrol or local sheriff's office.