Woman dies after motorcycle strikes deer

August 11, 5:48 PMKansas City Motorcycle ExaminerEric Rossiter

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Doniphan, MO -- Local media outlets are reporting that 48 year old Carla Beatson has died due to injuries suffered after the motorcycle she was riding on struck a deer.

The MO Highway Patrol state that the Harley-Davidson being ridden by her husband, 51 year old Clyde Beatson of Festus, struck a deer then left the road and overturned.

You see news reports like this everyday.  No matter how much we prepare and how many riders courses we take there is just no predicting how wild animals will react when their world and ours entertwine.  Deer and other wild animal accidents are at the top of the list of hazards that motorcyclists face.  If you ride at night often, or in wooded or forested areas, or any where the deer population may be heavy, take extra precaution.  Wear your gear, cover your controls, and slow down.

There are a few key points to remember when riding at night or times of the year when deer traffic is heavy.  I've been doing research and a lot of reading in this arena and have gathered up a few quick tips for you to remember.

• deer travel in groups, where there is one, there are others, slow down, cover your controls, be prepared to brake hard
• deer munch on the grass at the side of the road at in the early mornings and early evenings, slow down, cover your controls, be prepared to brake hard
• deer hide does not reflect light, their eyes do, if that roadside markers reflecting dots suddenly blink, slow down, cover your controls, be prepared to brake hard
•  deer are unpredictable, they'll stand and watch you ride all the way up to them and then bolt at the last second.  deer will jump straight ahead in the direction they are looking, and then run in a zig-zag pattern.  if you see a deer, slow down, cover your controls, be prepared to brake hard
• heed the deer crossing and deer migration signs, they're there because of numerous repeated accidents in that general area, slow down, cover your controls, be prepared to brake hard
• do not attempt to swerve if a collision is imminent, you want to be as stable as possible at the time of contact

Hopefully the above will give you some things to think about and might help you the next time you're cruising down that lettered road at dusk.  Did you detect a reoccuring theme?  Slow down, cover your controls, be prepared to brake hard.  Oh, and when was the last time you spent a couple of hours in the parking lot down the street practicing your emergency braking?  I thought so, you slacker.

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