Since the NC Department of Transportation began tracking the number of collisions between cars and deer in 2007, Johnston County has always been in the top 10. In 2014, the latest year where statistics are available, Johnston ranked 9th.
The DOT is reminding motorists locally to keep alert for deer during the fall months. Over 58,000 animal-related crashes have been reported on North Carolina roadways in the past 3 years. Nearly half of the 58,372 animal-related crashes took place in October through December. And 90 percent of those crashes involved deer.
Crashes have been on the increase every year. Between 2012 and 2014, animal-related crashes have claimed 11 lives and injured more than 3,386 drivers and caused nearly $145 million in damages.
Wake County has the most animal crashes in North Carolina, followed by Pitt, Guilford, Duplin, Randolph, Union, Mecklenburg, Columbus, Johnston and Rockingham counties.
Officials say the top 10 counties all have considerable acreage of woods, with an increased number of drivers on rural and urban roads.
Statistics show most crashes occurred between 5am and 7am and between 6pm and 11pm.
