A report from Colorado State Patrol recently covered the risks that Centennial State drivers face related to animal-involved vehicular crashes.

According to their press release on the matter, Colorado State Patrol has already responded to 1,600 animal-involved vehicular crashes so far in 2025, with two recent crashes resulting in deaths.

The first fatal crash took place on July 11 at about 11:25 p.m. It involved a driver who struck a moose on C-470 in the Highlands Ranch area of south Denver metro. In total, four vehicles struck the animal, one of which lost control and resulted in fatal injuries being sustained by its driver.

A second fatal wildlife-involved crash took place at about 5:53 a.m. on July 20, also on C-470, though in the area of Ken Caryl. In this case, a driver swerved to avoid a deer, traveling off the road and sustaining fatal injuries while the vehicle rolled.

Of the 1,600 animal-related crashes that Colorado State Patrol has responded to this year, the vast majority resulted in only property damage. A total of 63, however, caused injuries to those inside involved vehicles, with the two aforementioned deaths being the only fatalities related to animal-involved crashes that the agency has responded to thus far this year.

Animal-involved crashes were the third most-common type of crash in Colorado in 2024, with state troopers investigating 3,573 of this type of crash last year. While most of animal-involved crashes only result in damage to the vehicle in terms of the impact on human life, the animal that is hit often does not survive. The average amount of property damage in an animal-involved crash is over $3,000, according to Colorado State Patrol.

Colorado State Patrol shared the following tips for preventing an animal-involved crash:

• Scan roads (or shoulders) for movement, look for eye shine.
• Use bright lights at night when safe and flash lights at oncoming cars to warn of wildlife on the road.
• Do not honk at wildlife in/near the road.
• Brake if possible. Then use your hazard lights until the animal moves out of the way.
• If you cannot stop safely, do not swerve – drive straight through. Try to hit the animal from the side, rather than from the front.
• Don’t exceed the speed limit. Speed increases damage and injury in the event of a crash.
• More than anything, maintain control of your vehicle.

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