The Associated Press reported Tuesday that a truck driver was killed when he struck a deer in Avilla, Ind.
Royce Yoder, 49, of Fort Wayne, was driving on Indiana 8 just before 6 p.m. Monday when his truck struck the deer, the Noble County Sheriff's Department said.
The report said Yoder was driving a semi, but did not mention a trailer or a fleet name.
From the evidence at the scene, it appeared the impact sent the deer through the truck’s front window on the driver's side, striking and killing Yoder, Noble County Coroner John Brazzell said. The deer was ejected out the rear window.
The only witness to the crash about 20 miles north of Fort Wayne was traveling behind the truck and did not see the deer until it was thrown from the truck.
Brazzell said Yoder died of internal injuries caused by the impact with the deer. Yoder's truck then traveled into the ditch before coming to a stop.
"Not very often, but I have seen people killed in car-deer accidents, but not semi-deer accidents," Brazzell said.
Coincidentally on Tuesday, the Kansas Department of Transportation and the Colorado State Police issued press releases warning motorists of the increased danger posed by deer and other wild animals during late fall.