COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) -Data released by Michigan State Police shows that the number of car-deer crashes in Branch County in 2017 were about the same as 2016.
Of the 758 crashes reported in Branch County in 2017, a total of 17 resulted in injuries. There were no fatal crashes in Branch County. Statewide, there were 17 fatal car-deer crashes in 2017.
Branch County had 761 car-deer crashes in 2016.
Michigan State Police say one of six Michigan traffic accidents in 2017 were caused by a collision with a deer. In October and November 2017, it was one in three.
Michigan had 50,949 collisions involving deer in 2017 which was a nine percent increase from 2016.
The peak hour for car-deer crashes is between 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 a.m..
Oakland County had the most car-deer crashes with 1,765 followed by Kent and Jackson Counties.
The upward tick comes after Michigan’s deer herd was affected by harsh winters between 2013 and 2015.
