We are now into the fall season, which means one certainty for local drivers: they’re not on the road alone.
The fall season, also referred to as peak deer season, means the four-legged animals will have a more consistent presence on local roadways and Lyon County Undersheriff John Koelsch says drivers need to remain vigilant.
Should you come across a deer in the roadway, Koelsch says the best course of action is to hit the deer.
Local authorities have already seen the impact of deer season with a semi crash northwest of Emporia a little less than a week ago. The crash happened this past Thursday near US Highway 56 and Road C around 11:30 pm. Lyon County Deputy Curtis Morse says deputies found a semi pulling a hopper bottom grain trailer in a ditch off US-56. The driver, 19-year-old Avery Gee of Marysville, says he was driving eastbound when a deer came onto the highway. Gee tried to slow down the truck, but it and the trailer left the highway onto the shoulder. Gee then tried to get the truck and trailer back onto the highway, but it rolled an unknown number of times off the road instead and came to rest about 40 feet off the highway.
Gee was treated for suspected minor injuries at the scene and declined further treatment. He was wearing his seatbelt.
While most individuals often associate deer sightings with rural areas, Koelsch reminded drivers that they do not limit themselves to those areas alone, as deer strikes can happen within the city limits as well.
According to the Kansas Department of Transportation, a total of 10,742 deer-related vehicle crashes were recorded in the state of Kansas in 2025, representing 40 percent of all single-vehicle crashes in the state. Koelsch says the peak times for deer sightings are at dawn and dusk and drivers are encouraged to turn on their high beams before sunrise or after sunset, when there is no oncoming traffic, to help spot eye reflections.
If you do strike a deer, state law requires you to report the accident and Koelsch says not to wait. Drivers should pull over to the shoulder of the road and contact local law enforcement immediately after a collision.
