Somerset Man Dies From Injuries After Deer Smashes Into His Car

SOMERSET, NJ — A Somerset driver who was critically injured Thanksgiving weekend when a buck deer smashed his car has died.

Mark Rodgers, 63, died at 2:50 p.m. on Tuesday after succumbing to the injuries that he suffered in the crash on Friday, Franklin Police reported.

Rodgers was hospitalized on Friday around 5:37 p.m. after police received a 911 call reporting a crash on South Middlebush Road, just north of Beekman Road, police said.

Upon arrival, officers found a single-car motor vehicle crash with the driver suffering from serious injuries.

The initial investigation revealed a 2017 Hyundai Elantra operated by Rodgers was traveling northbound on South Middlebush Road when it struck a large buck deer crossing the roadway, police said.

The deer came through the windshield and struck Rodgers before landing in the back seat. Rodgers was transported to a local area trauma center where he was listed in critical condition.

South Middlebush Road was closed in both directions for about 4 hours while members of the Franklin Township Police Department's Traffic Safety Bureau investigated the incident.

• See Related: Deer Smashes Car, Critically Injures NJ Driver In Franklin

(Image via Morguefile)

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