Driver Injured When Deer Crashes Through Truck Windshield

BEAVER COUNTY (KDKA) – A man was injured when his car hit a deer on the Turnpike Monday afternoon. It happened in Beaver County near the Ohio line.

Traffic came to a standstill on the Pennsylvania Turnpike between New Castle and the Gateway exits when a deer and a motorist collided. According to state police, the deer ended up going through the windshield of the small truck.

Police say it happened around 1:45 p.m. when the truck, which was travelling eastbound on the Turnpike, hit the deer, who then crashed into the truck's windshield.

The driver was flown by medical helicopter in serious condition to UPMC Presbyterian with injuries to the head.

Traffic on the Turnpike came to a complete halt for more than an hour.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission says the first day of deer hunting season increases the likelihood of accidents like this one.

"With a lot of the guys in the state doing deer drives and things like that, the deer are moving," said Dan Puhala, a conservation officer with the state Game Commission. "You would have a good chance of them possibly running across the road, just because of the amount of hunters that are out."

"Keep your eyes open, watch which way they're going," he advised, "and don't just look at the deer crossing in front of you, make sure that there aren't more coming behind it. Those are usually the ones that people hit, the second or third deer that come."

The state Game Commission estimates there are close to 1 million hunters across the state. That many hunters could send deer scattering all over the area. Be aware and alert.

The State Police have not released the name of the driver involved in the incident.

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