Deer-vehicle accidents tick up in OTC

By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent 

One person was injured in a one-vehicle accident on Oct. 14 east of Elizabeth on Highway 10. The injury was not serious.

There were four people inside a pickup when the driver lost control of the vehicle  while driving along a curve in the roadway. Airbags were deployed when the accident took place at 8:13 a.m.

The injured individual, a passenger, told authorities about pain in his forehead. There was a bruise on his upper left thigh. The driver and the other two passengers were not injured.

The accident took place close to the intersection of Highways 10 and 27.

Deer-vehicle crashes

Deer-vehicle crashes peak in the autumn months, but Minnesota’s large deer population makes them a safety hazard on the road all year long. 

Deer crashes are especially dangerous for motorcyclists, a group which accounted for 15 of the 18 vehicle-deer related deaths over a five-year period (2016-2020).

Motorist safety tips to avoid deer crashes:

• Drive at safe speeds and always be buckled up.

• Be especially cautious from 6 to 9 p.m. when deer are most active.

• Use high beams as much as possible at night, especially in deer-active areas.