by Guy Page

A pair of nighttime accidents caused by deer dashing across Vermont highways sent two people to the hospital over the weekend.

One of the accidents occurred on a remote country road in the Northeast Kingdom. A 74-year-old woman was injured during a single-vehicle crash on Darling Hill Road in Derby 9:25 pm July 8.

According to the police report, Darlene Rever, of Derby, was traveling north when a deer ran across the road from the west. Rever’s vehicle left the east side of the road and traveled approximately 100 feet before coming to rest in a ditch. Rever was transported by Newport Ambulance to North Country Hospital. The vehicle sustained major damage and was towed from the scene by Wright’s Automotive.

The other deer-related accident occurred on I-89 in South Burlington, normally one of Vermont’s busiest highways but not as much at 4:12 AM on Sunday morning, when Calvin Lesage, 26, of Fairfax was northbound in his 2011 Toyota Rav 4.

Lesage swerved to avoid a deer crossing his path and tried to correct himself but overcorrected, then drifted off the roadway and collided with the guardrail. There were no signs of impairment.

As a result, Lesage sustained a neck injury and was transported to University of Vermont Medical Center by the South Burlington Fire Department. Due to disabling damage to the vehicle, Spillane’s Towing assisted with removing the vehicle from the scene.

It is not known if either deer was hurt.

“Fawns of this year are present and travelling with the does, which increases the number of deer that can cross the highway,” John Hall of Vermont Fish & Wildlife responded to a question from Vermont Daily Chronicle. “This also increases the likelihood that a second deer will be following that first one that crossed in front of you. Some areas of the state have higher deer populations, especially where little or no hunting occurs.”

Despite deer being fast on their feet and leaping impressive lengths, their “deer in headlights” complex causes them to be the victims of many car collisions, Petkeen.com says. The website lists the following statistics about deer-automobile collisions:

1. About 1.5 million motor vehicle accidents in the U.S. are caused by deer each year.
2. Every year, over one million deer get hit by cars.
3. Deer cause over $1 billion in property damage.
4. Collisions with deer cause 200 fatalities each year.
5. There is a 1 in 116 chance of hitting a deer with a car in the United States.
6. 67% of animal collisions are caused by deer.
7. The most common time deer collisions happen is between 6pm–9pm.
8. When there is a full moon, you are more likely to hit a deer.
9. November sees the highest rate of deer collisions.
10. Virginia has the most extended deer hunting season of all the states.
11. West Virginia has the highest car insurance claims for collisions with an animal.