By Tom Latek
Kentucky Today
Crashes between vehicles and deer are most common this time of year especially in rural areas, and sometimes they are unavoidable. Just ask Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman.
Coleman posted on her Facebook page Wednesday morning, “Last night, while traveling home from Bowling Green, my security detail and I were involved in a car wreck along the Bluegrass Parkway. We are okay. The vehicle and deer are not.”
She also saluted the law enforcement agencies that arrived on the scene.
“Thank you to the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office and other first responders. As always, I am indebted to Kentucky State Police for keeping me safe.”
This should serve as a message for everyone to exercise caution on the roads, especially during the last three months of the year.
According to state highway safety officials, crash data shows Kentucky experienced a seven-year high of 3,411 deer collisions in 2025, underscoring the importance of safe driving habits during peak deer movement season along roads statewide.
“With deer active this time of year, especially at dawn and dusk, motorists should stay focused, slow down in areas where deer are present and always wear a seat belt,” said Kentucky Transportation Cabinet State Highway Engineer James Ballinger. “A few extra moments of caution can help prevent a serious crash.”
According to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, deer movement typically increases during the fall as mating season begins and food sources shift. Deer often travel farther distances during October, November and December, making road encounters more common.
While crash numbers increased last year, data showed a positive downward trend in deer crash-related fatalities with none reported in 2025, compared with six in 2024. Thirty people were reported to have been seriously injured in these crashes. Nearly half of all deer collisions occurred during the final three months of the year. November recorded the highest number of crashes with 823 reported collisions, followed by 394 in October and 330 in December.