Three mishaps caused as result of deer on rural roads

The Adams County Sheriff’s Department investigated three accidents on Tuesday that all came about after vehicles tried to avoid hitting a deer that was either on the roadway in their path or ran onto the road.

At 1:15 a.m., Guy L. Lee, 53, rural Decatur, was headed northwest on Salem Road just north of US 33 when he suddenly saw a deer on the road. As he attempted to miss the animal, his SUV went off the road into a ditch where it struck a culvert and then continued to travel north into a field where it rotated before coming to rest. Between $1,001-$2,500 in damage was done to his vehicle.

At 6:35 a.m., Cheryl L. Reinking, 57, rural Decatur, was eastbound on US 224 near CR 200 W but was unable to avoid hitting the animal that was in front of her SUV. Damage was placed at between $2,501$5,000.

At 8:41 p.m., Rodney M. Liechty, 76, rural Berne, told police he was westbound on CR 600 S when a deer ran from the north side of the road and he struck it with the front of his car. A damage estimated of $2,501-$5,000 was placed on his vehicle from the accident.

The Decatur Police Department probed a two-vehicle crash at 10:10 a.m. Tuesday at the intersection of Second and Monroe. The report said Carole S. Lairson, 71, Bristol Drive, Geneva, was northbound on Second Street and was following directions in an attempt to find a business. She told police she needed to turn right onto Monroe Street but was in a left turn only lane. Another vehicle operated by Ryan N. Langevin-Sheffiel, 25, W. Grant Street, Decatur, was also going north in the straight lane. He told police Lairson had her left turn signal on when she suddenly turned right in front of his vehicle causing the collision and causing an estimated $2,501-$5,000 in damage.