Dash Cam Rolls as Police Cruiser Hits Deer

On Nov. 7, a routine patrol ride turned into a collision for one , and his dash cam caught it all on tape.

Avon Lake Ptl. Ron Cantleberry was following an ambulance down Jaycox Road when he struck a deer at 12:36 a.m.

“It wasn’t there, and then … there it was,” Cantleberry said.  

He said he wasn’t entirely surprised by the accident.

“It’s not uncommon to see 50-60 deer each night,” he said. Cantleberry said for every collision there were probably thousands of near misses.

The deer came from Cantleberry’s right—stopped mid road and then turned back—right in front of the patrol car. The vehicle wasn’t going too fast, which may have prevented more significant damage or injury.

Cantleberry, who can’t recall a police car striking a deer in recent history, said the vehicle damage included the fender and headlights. It was still drivable after the accident, but he pulled to the side of the road immediately after the collision.

 “I wanted to get out of the way in case there were more deer,” he said.

After other officers arrived, the injured deer, which was on the side of the road, was put down.

Damage to the patrol car was estimated at $1,800, and it has been repaired.

The video highlights just how little reaction time there is when you encounter a deer in the road, especially at night. There have in Avon Lake this year.

See the video to get a front seat view of what Cantleberry saw.