Deer-vehicle collisions decline

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Deer-vehicle collisions in the Mahoning Valley fell in 2010, according to new data compiled by the Ohio Insurance Institute.

There were 1,132 deer-vehicle collisions in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties in 2010, down 7 percent compared with 2009, when there were 1,217 collisions.

Mahoning had the biggest decline. Collisions dropped from 448 in 2009 to 387 in 2010, a decrease of 13.6 percent.

Columbiana incident totals fell 6.7 percent, from 341 to 318. Trumbull had one fewer incident during 2010 than it had during 2009, dropping from 428 to 427.

Deer-vehicle accidents declined 7.7 percent statewide. The likelihood of getting in a deer-related accident in Ohio, however, is still high. State Farm Insurance reports that Ohioans have a 1-in-132 chance of hitting a deer, higher than the national rate, which is 1 in 192. Deer-vehicle accidents fell 7 percent nationwide in 2010.