Blog: Traffic Jam on East Lake Rd. Caused by Deer Accident

Just like every other Monday, Scott Smith was working in East Lake today.  He was traveling south on East Lake Road and passed Tarpon Woods Boulevard when two deer ran in front of his car. It was unavoidable. He struck the second deer and watched the first deer as it was hit and fatally wounded in the northbound lanes.  Traffic slowed and snarled in both directions.

Scott Smith stopped and was distraught about the accident.  The deer he hit was still moving and breathing.  Law enforcement and local wildlife volunteers were contacted.  An attempt to reach Vernon Yates, who feeds the deer carcasses to captive wildlife for sustainment, was not helpful in this situation as Vernon Yates was unavailable this morning.  Vernon collects recently hit deer to feed to captive tigers.

Law enforcement, probably a sheriff's deputy, who was pulling a trailer with a golf cart cited a contract with Vernon Yates and said it would be prohibitive for anyone else to take the deer without Mr. Yates approval.  The law enforcement officer left with traffic snarling, two deer in the road and distraught motorists on the side of the road who did not really know what to do next.  Eventually, local wildlife volunteers removed both deer, one still breathing and the other which had sustained fatal injuries in the crash.

Several wildlife advocates, including myself,  have previously contacted the county to run a warning about deer crossing on the electronic signs which were purchased and installed but are rarely used.  The sign display with the deer warning ran for a short period after an article in the St. Petersburg Times drew attention to the problem.  Right after the warning was discontinued the count for deer carcasses began.  So far six have been counted.  The deer that was still alive was also confirmed pregnant bringing the toll higher.  She has now died.

Deer carcasses left on roadways attract other wildlife which gather into or near the roadway, including vultures and particularly bald eagles.  Aside from signage, East Lake Road is a very fast moving road, and has taken a toll on human life as well.  Wildlife bridges between John Chesnut Park and a reduction in speed limit on that portion of East Lake Road would help curb accidents on the heavily traveled road.