Jun 8

Jun 8 Deer crashes through car's windshield on Highway 52 in Rochester

(THE MED CITY BEAT) - Drivers: be on the lookout for deer.

According to the Minnesota State Patrol, a deer crashed through the windshield of a vehicle around 6 p.m. Sunday on Highway 52 in Rochester. The incident happened near the intersection with South Broadway.

One person, a 20-year-old La Crosse man, was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The other three people in the car were not injured.

Coincidentally, Monday's crash happened near the spot where a motorcyclist was killed in a crash with a deer over Memorial Day weekend.

Late spring is typically one of the worst times of year for deer-related crashes. It's when does are searching for places to give birth and young deer are starting to separate from their mothers.

Minnesota drivers have about 1 in 88 chance of being struck by a deer, according to an estimate by the insurance company State Farm. That's the eighth highest risk in the country.

Here are some tips for avoiding deer crashes, courtesy the Minnesota Department of Public Safety:

Drive at safe speeds and always be buckled up.
Be especially cautious from 6 to 9 p.m., when deer are most active.
Use high beams as much as possible at night, especially in deer-active areas.
Don’t swerve to avoid a deer. Swerving can cause motorists to lose control and travel off the road or into oncoming traffic.

Click here for a full list of tips.