A Fort Collins man riding a low-power scooter suffered life-threatening injuries after colliding with a deer late Sunday night, sending police scrambling with a drone to search for the animal along a stretch of roadway known for wildlife sightings. The crash happened around 10:06 p.m. Oct. 11 in the 2000 block of Centre Avenue, near the Gardens on Spring Creek.
Officers Confirm Deer Collision at the Scene
According to The Denver Gazette, Fort Collins police officers responded to the crash and located the rider, who was then taken to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries. Investigators said they found evidence on the road and on the scooter itself confirming the vehicle had struck a deer. As reported by the Coloradoan, the crash occurred on Centre Avenue near the Gardens on Spring Creek, and officers deployed a drone afterward to sweep the area, though they did not locate any injured deer.
Because of how serious the rider's injuries were, the department's CRASH, or Collision Reconstruction and Scene Handling, Team took over the investigation. Chris Bland, who oversees the Fort Collins Police CRASH Team, said Fort Collins experiences animal-vehicle collisions and is not immune to them, and he described the case as tragic, offering support for the rider and his friends and family, per the Gazette's reporting.
A Stretch of Road Where Wildlife Roams
The area along Spring Creek is one where wildlife are frequently spotted, the Coloradoan notes, a detail that underscores how easily a deer can wander into traffic even within city limits. That risk isn't unique to Fort Collins. Colorado Parks and Wildlife reports that wildlife-vehicle collisions can happen at any time of year statewide, but increase during the winter migration season, especially between dusk and dawn. The agency also notes that deer are extremely vulnerable to being struck this time of year because it coincides with their peak mating season.
On average, Colorado sees roughly 3,300 reported wildlife hits annually, according to the same CPW page, though the Colorado Department of Transportation has offered a somewhat different figure, noting that its own 10-year average of 3,300 reported hits has actually ranged from about 2,000 to 4,000 in any given year. CPW also explains that wildlife in the state generally move from higher to lower elevations as winter approaches, following traditional paths between seasonal ranges that can cross directly through roadways.
Crossings Elsewhere Have Cut Collision Numbers
Elsewhere in Colorado, infrastructure built specifically to keep animals off the road has shown measurable results. Along Highway 9, researchers documented more than 112,000 successful mule deer crossings at seven dedicated crossing structures between November 2015 and April 2020, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The agency says installing wildlife crossings and radar systems can reduce collisions with vehicles while still keeping migration paths open for animals.
Fort Collins police have not said whether a citation was issued or who, if anyone, was found at fault in Sunday night's crash. Anyone with information about the crash who has not already spoken with investigators is asked to call Officer Phil Morris at 970-221-6540.
