Johnson County Sheriff’s Office reminds drivers about deer danger after rollover accident on Highway 218

image001-2

Lang
9/7/24

A rollover accident on Highway 218 has the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office reminding drivers of seasonal deer danger.

Fall is rutting season, meaning motorists are more likely to encounter a deer while driving…specifically at dawn, dusk, and for a few hours after the sun sets.

The sheriff’s office says deputies were called to a single vehicle crash just before 3:30 Monday morning on southbound Highway 218 just north of the Hills exit.  The driver swerved to miss a deer running through the roadway and rolled the vehicle.  The driver was taken to the hospital and treated for minor injuries.

The sheriff’s office says while it may be tempting to swerve to avoid hitting a deer, it could make the situation much worse.  Swerving increases the likelihood of hitting an oncoming car, rolling your vehicle, or hitting another fixed object.  When encountering a deer, brake firmly and steer through the collision when the crash is unavoidable.

Safety tips include being vigilant during high traffic times, using high beam headlights when appropriate, and assuming when you see one deer, others will follow.