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Deer dies after it collides with bicyclists in Huachuca City

By Gentry Braswell
Herald/Review
Published/Last Modified on Saturday, Oct 13, 2007 - 05:16:01 am MST

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HUACHUCA CITY — A crash between a deer and a tandem bicycle in Huachuca City on Friday morning killed the deer and slightly injured the two cyclists.

Huachuca City Police Department spokeswoman Jennifer Fuller said numerous calls came into dispatch after the wreck happened about 6:20 a.m., near the corner of Highway 90 and McCray Street.

“Well, the deer didn’t make it, and the two people on the tandem bike were taken to the hospital. They were a little banged up, but I think they were transported just for precaution,” Fuller said.

The three-point buck ran off about 200 yards and died, apparently of the injury to his neck, where the impact with the second set of handlebars occurred, Fuller said.

About 1.5 million deer-vehicle collisions happen each year in the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Those accidents cause about 150 deaths and $1.1 billion in property damage annually, according to the agency.

Many of the collisions occur between October and December, which is typically deer migration and mating season, according to the Michigan Deer Crash Coalition, which is in a state that ranks near the top of the number of car-vehicle crashes.

Eighty percent of all car-deer crashes in Michigan occur on two-lane roads between dusk and dawn, the coalition reports.

REPORTER Gentry Braswell can be reached at 515-4680 or by e-mail at gentry.braswell@svherald.com.

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Over reaction wrote on Oct 19, 2007 6:51 AM:

" I know the cyclists. They are very responsible, upstanding people. I'm glad they weren't hurt any more severely than they were. "Minor injuries" - that's not too accurate. It's going to take some significant time to heal from this. It's too bad about the deer, but this truly was an accident - and it was the deer's fault. Some of you need to get a grip... "

long time cyclist wrote on Oct 17, 2007 8:17 PM:

" Hey beep beep it doesn't make any difference how many El Tour you have done. The rules are go with traffic and pass with care. If you want to make more out this, that is your choice. I also belong to bicycle league, so what they recommend is what I am telling you. Good luck on the Tour. Wish I could be there, but I will be in Ohio that weekend. "

from a family member of the bicyclists wrote on Oct 17, 2007 1:16 PM:

" Their inuries were not minor the stupid deer came out of no where and could have killed them. People hunt deer they arent more superior to peoples life. They cant help a deer jumped into them. If they want to ride their bike on any road, it is their business not people who have no lives and are whining about a dumb deer. He is very respected in both the military and the as a doctor. He is not some stupid bicyclist. Thank God they are ok. They can not be safe in any situation, even getting in your car.. "

Deer Hunter wrote on Oct 16, 2007 8:04 AM:

" "long time cyclist" my sympathy to the deer is needed. All of us seem to be pushing them to these suburbs, cities, etc. that we want to keep developing. A 3 pt buck is rare being that close to the road here in this area. I hunt for meat, only one of them has been larger than 3 pts. Like I said, I like to bicycle as well, just remember the weight of the vehicle is hard to slow down at the posted limit to 5 or 10 miles at the drop of a dime. "

you all wrote on Oct 15, 2007 10:40 PM:

" this accident, odd as it is, shouldnt be a chance to blow smoke about whether cyclists or motorists have the bigger problem with their counterparts. people were hurt, quit your bellyaching "

Beep Beep to long time cyclist wrote on Oct 15, 2007 10:06 PM:

" Jumping to conclusions can make you look bad. I'm an avid cyclist, I've only missed 4 of the 25 El Tour De Tucson events due to medical reasons, and have been a member of the League of American Bicyclists probably before you were born. We advocate riding with COMMON SENSE. I knew I would flush one of you birds out of the bush with my comments. You should read more carefully before you blurb silly comments in public. There's plenty of sensible places to ride, a windy curvy road with few safe passing zones posted at 55mph is not! "

long time cyclist wrote on Oct 15, 2007 8:39 AM:

" Hey Beep Beep You just need to follow the law and pass me in an appropiate matter. Slow down wait till it is clear and just simplely pass me. It is not that hard. You might have to wait a whole 5 seconds. May be you should try riding a bit it may relax you enough to be considerate of others. The real issue here is some people think they own the road, just share me a couple feet and relax and pass with care. Have a nice day. "

Hey, beep beep wrote on Oct 15, 2007 5:55 AM:

" *You* are the one who apparently can't use "COMMON SENSE." Do you honestly think anyone expects you to drive into opposing traffic? If you do, you should have your license revoked! On Charleston, there's just not that much traffic, so wait until it's clear and go around using the left lane. To use the left lane, even in a no passing zone, to safely pass cyclists/pedestrians/horsemen will *not* get you a traffic citation from any kind of law enforcement officer in this state. Try common sense and courtesy yourself, it works for everyone. "

long time cyclist??? wrote on Oct 14, 2007 2:04 PM:

" "total disregard of drivers towards cyclist".. What an ignorant statement. You sound like a typical rider who hangs out 2-3 feet in the road on Charleston between the river and Tombstone, and expect us to drive into opposing traffic to give you space. Sorry if I clip you with my mirror, but I'm not going head on with another car so you can ride on a road YOU HAVE NO BUSINESS BEING ON in all good COMMON SENSE. Most riders are excellent, and most drivers are very good about sharing the road. You give riders a bad reputation. Beep Beep! "

long time cyclist wrote on Oct 14, 2007 7:59 AM:

" Hey deer hunter comments about riders on the road is well taken. My personal experience has been the total disregard of drivers towards cyclist. Your rare example pales how many times inconsiderate drivers have run me off the road in no passing zones, cut me off at turns and thrown things at me. Share the road please! Your article seemed more sympathic for the deer then the bicylce riders. Waht is that all about? "

CGS wrote on Oct 13, 2007 11:41 PM:

" Whew, I'm glad the riders are OK. At least the animal wasn't a bull! "

Traffic wrote on Oct 13, 2007 3:59 PM:

" DeerHunter, bicycles aren't "in traffic", they ARE traffic! Same roads, same rules, same rights! You own a car, not the road! "

Lyn Cordisco wrote on Oct 13, 2007 3:05 PM:

" Their comments were flippant and lacking in-depth facts. If the injured cyclists had been interviewed,this would have been a more accurate story with a concern for the well being of the cyclists and a human interest angle,especially wearing helmets and how it minimized further injuries. Do people in AZ care to know more about MI deer dying, or what really happened locally to two of its own citizens?If told differently, this story could have been a heads up kind of story, helping and informing the citizens instead of gleaning a biased edge towards cyclists that kill poor, innocent, unsuspecting deer. "

Check out some cycling laws. wrote on Oct 13, 2007 1:42 PM:

" Motorist have to stay at least three feet from cyclists when passing (ARS28-735). This, combined with the width of most lanes, creates one of the exemptions to ARS28-815. In other words, they can use the lane just like a car under most circumstances. ARS29-701 establishes minimum speed for *motorists* only. But laws aside, it's prudent for cyclists to use the lane, this raises visibility and (hopefully) forces motorists to slow down and treat cyclists more like a car, instead of thinking they can 'squeeze by' which often creates dangerous situations. Sidewalk cycling is extremely dangerous, btw. "

Not funny but... wrote on Oct 13, 2007 12:54 PM:

" I wonder if the deer's lawyers have been informed of this tragic accident? Because it was surely the tandem bicyclists fault and well you know, they were in the deer's territory. Glad to know the cyclists are okay. They looked pretty dazed and confused when we happened thru the accident scene. "

firestar wrote on Oct 13, 2007 12:35 PM:

" There are devices sold that stick on the front of a vehicle that whistle and warn deer. I ride a Gold Wing through Ohio,Pennsylvania,and Virginia and I can assure you all that they really do work. You have to test them frequently with a can of air or a compressor as they clog easily. "

friends of riders wrote on Oct 13, 2007 11:59 AM:

" I'd also like to add thank goodness for the people who stopped to help the couple as they were injured and shame on the vehicle that saw the accident and drove past. "

friends of riders wrote on Oct 13, 2007 11:56 AM:

" I'd like people know that the couple that was hit by the deer are the victims -not the deer. The deer was coming out of a residential area onto the road. The deer leapt into the riders. Luckily the couple is doing better, but slightly injured was not an accurate description. Both will need some time to recover from their injuries. This couple-anyone who knows them knows this to be true-- are courteous to everyone and thing! It's unfortunate the deer was killed, but it is more unfortunate that they were hurt-avoiding traffic early in the morning. "

K.H. wrote on Oct 13, 2007 9:45 AM:

" Wow this really is funny, article kinda got off the point at times but still good. Glad the people are OK. My condolences to the family of the deer. "

Deer Hunter wrote on Oct 13, 2007 8:43 AM:

" Hum...killed by a tandem bicycle? Then the reporter comes up with vehicle statistics? I do not get it! I do know that the bicyclists are getting pretty brave. 3 days ago there were 2 bicyclists on hwy 90, passing each other IN the traffic lanes, not on the sides. I do not believe I have seen anyone on a bicycle peddle 65mph. Luck was on there side that the van did not plow them over due to their lack of common sense. I enjoy riding a bicycle, I have the sense though to not be in traffic. "

Jim W. wrote on Oct 13, 2007 8:29 AM:

" Glad the people on the bicycle are OK. But this story is almost too funny to believe...did the three-point buck think the tandem bike was another four-point buck impeding on it's mating territory since the impact was at the handlebars (bike antlers)...or two two-point bucks moving in on the three-point bucks mating territory? Again, glad the people are alive...it could have been much worse. I ride my bicylce in this area and will now be extra careful... "