Dash Cam Rolls as Police Cruiser Hits Deer
Avon Lake has had 28 accidents involving deer this year. One involved a police cruiser. Take a look.
On Nov. 7, a routine patrol ride turned into a collision for one police officer, and his dash cam caught it all on tape.
Avon Lake Ptl. Ron Cantleberry was following an ambulance down Jaycox Road when he struck a deer at 12:36 a.m.
“It wasn’t there, and then … there it was,” Cantleberry said.
He said he wasn’t entirely surprised by the accident.
“It’s not uncommon to see 50-60 deer each night,” he said. Cantleberry said for every collision there were probably thousands of near misses.
The deer came from Cantleberry’s right—stopped mid road and then turned back—right in front of the patrol car. The vehicle wasn’t going too fast, which may have prevented more significant damage or injury.
Cantleberry, who can’t recall a police car striking a deer in recent history, said the vehicle damage included the fender and headlights. It was still drivable after the accident, but he pulled to the side of the road immediately after the collision.
“I wanted to get out of the way in case there were more deer,” he said.
After other officers arrived, the injured deer, which was on the side of the road, was put down.
Damage to the patrol car was estimated at $1,800, and it has been repaired.
The video highlights just how little reaction time there is when you encounter a deer in the road, especially at night. There have been 28 accidents involving deer in the road in Avon Lake this year.
See the video to get a front seat view of what Cantleberry saw.
Nick Fernando
11:46 am on Friday, December 2, 2011
Someone is going to die in a collision with these deer. When will the city learn? We MUST get rid of the deer now! What is the city doing about this dangerous problem?
Patricia Vinch
12:24 pm on Friday, December 2, 2011
Agree Nick!! I am afraid to drive around here day or night. The city needs to pass a law to fine anyone that feeds the deer. How about $1,800 to pay for the police car damage? Pat
Nicole Davis
12:45 pm on Friday, December 2, 2011
I am so glad the officer was not hurt, the situation could have been much worse. Thanks for posting the video. I know it isn't funny, but I did chuckle at your comment that he later said he was mad.
Frank Krempasky
10:33 am on Saturday, December 3, 2011
I was three feet from the same thing last week. I hope it does not take a death for the city to wake up regarding this problem.
Curt Fell
12:40 pm on Saturday, December 3, 2011
My Dad hit a deer on Walker Road near the VFW back in the late 1970's with his Oldsmobile Delta 78 Diesel. It totaled his huge car, took out the front end of it! Thank God my Dad had his seat belt on.
Nick Fernando
8:38 pm on Sunday, December 4, 2011
Reading these stories makes me nervous to drive anywhere in this town! The sooner we get rid of all the deer the safer we will be. Avon Lake needs to be free of these wild animals!
Anneliese
2:14 pm on Friday, December 9, 2011
I'm glad the officer was not hurt, but I feel bad for the deer :(
Laura
11:27 pm on Tuesday, January 10, 2012
If you really are afraid to drive because of the deer, then you probably shouldn't be driving anyway. And the deer are technically the property of the state, so we would need to get their permission before we even think about taking out some of the population. Any program involving hunters would cost tens of thousands of dollars in the first year, and thousands of dollars more every year after that for maintenance. The deer would need to be killed in a specific way and the meat would need to be disposed of properly. Frankly, I'm glad the city is not spending the money to kill these deer in order to spend it on other things we need to run the city.
Patricia Vinch
11:41 am on Wednesday, January 11, 2012
What Laura?? Now the deer own the roads, my car ? They already took my plants and flowers. This is no longer a farm country, the deer need to go!!
Nick B. Fernando
11:47 am on Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Laura- do you have children or elderly relatives? They are the ones in the most danger! The deer do not own this town and we certainly do not need "the state" to approve our culling of their population. This is AMERICA and I hate to break it to you, but deer don't pay taxes and they don't deserve any rights!
Patricia Vinch
3:19 pm on Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Thank You Nick!! ! I have a feeling Laura feeds the deer, it should be against the law.