Collision with deer sparks car crash near Central Park
None of the people involved in the incident were taken to the hospital; animal was seriously injured, put to death
A young deer was struck by a motorist near Central Park Tuesday morning sparking a three-car traffic collision.
Although the animal received immediate attention from witnesses to the crash who ran to its aid and from officers with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the seriously injured deer was put to death.
“It didn’t survive the car crash and was euthanized,” said Andrew Hughan, spokesman for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The incident happened about 8:30 a.m. on Bouquet Canyon Road, between Centurion Way and Central Park, confirmed Lt. Doug Mohroff of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.
Motorists who saw the collision stopped abruptly, causing a small pile-up near Central Park.
Paramedics with the Los Angeles County Fire Department were dispatched to the crash at 8:33 a.m., Fire Department Inspector Joey Marron said.
“This was a three vehicle collision,” he said, noting none of the people shaken up in the crash was taken to the hospital.
Some of the people who witnessed the deer being hit ran to its aid and tried to help it.
Officials with both the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and with
the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control told The Signal Tuesday that news of motorists hitting deer in the Santa Clarita Valley is “common.”
A spokeswoman for the Animal Shelter in Castaic said that, in fact, motorists hitting deer on Bouquet Canyon Road as commonplace.
Anyone wishing to know more about deer and the fall migration of deer in Southern California is urged to visit the Caltrans website which specifically addresses the issue of deer hit by motorists.
Caltrans advises ways to prevent a collision with a deer on its website, such as:
Slow down if you see a deer up ahead, as it is generally unpredictable.
Watch for the rest of the gang - Deer are pack animals, and rarely travel alone. If a deer crosses in front of you, chances are there are more nearby. Slow down and keep an eye out for more deer darting across the road.
Timing is everything - Deer are most active at dusk and dawn: periods when your vision is most compromised. To add to their terrible timing, deer are on the move during mating season (between October and January) when you’re more likely to travel after the sun sets. Slow down and stay alert, especially after dark.