SUV vs. elk near Hanford leaves 2 animals dead, 2 people at hospital
Two elk were killed on Highway 240 near Horn Rapids Dam and the Richland city limits, and two people were taken to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland.
A 2017 Ford Explorer heading northwest hit the animals a little after 5:30 a.m., said Trooper Chris Thorson of the Washington State Patrol.
Injuries to the driver and passenger of the SUV appeared to be minor, he said.
The meat from the elk will be salvaged and donated to charity.
The highway is busy at 5:30 a.m. Mondays with the start of the Hanford nuclear reservation site morning commute, but it was not immediately known if those in the Ford were heading to the nearby site.
Hanford officials have launched a traffic safety campaign this month, including warning workers and the public to watch out for elk and deer at dawn and dusk.
“Fall and early winter is mating season for deer and elk,” said Franklin County, Wash., Deputy Ramona Bolanos in a Hanford video. “Increased activity means increased risk of hitting one while driving.”
Don’t swerve, advised Benton County Lt. Mike Clark. You could lose control and head into oncoming traffic or off the road.
“If you see one deer or elk, assume there are probably more nearby,” he said.
Too many Hanford crashes
About half of all crashes involving deer and elk on Hanford happen in the fall, usually in October and November, according to Hanford officials.
In November 2018, Hanford employee Mikhaill “Mike” Stewart was heading north on Route 4 South toward the Wye Barricade secure entrance to Hanford when his motorcycle hit a deer near where the public road passes the Energy Northwest nuclear power plant.
He was critically injured and died.
It was one of six crashes that November with deer or elk at Hanford.
The next fall a Volkswagen Beetle driven on Highway 240 about 6:30 a.m. by a Hanford employee headed to work hit an elk, killing the animal and sending the driver to the hospital.
In May, with more Hanford workers back on site as COVID-19 cases declined, elk were blamed for crashes in two locations at Hanford in a single morning shortly before 6 a.m.
Tips to avoid hitting elk
Tri-Cities area law enforcement and Hanford officials offer this advice to drivers:
▪ Scan the shoulders of the road at dawn and dusk and slow down if you see animals. Assume others are nearby.
▪ Increase the distance between you and the car in front of you to leave extra space for stopping.
▪ Be aware of other drivers braking, because it may mean there are animals near the road ahead.
▪ Honk your horn if you see a deer or elk on the road.
▪ Use a car’s bright lights when possible. Dim the brights if you spot a deer or elk to avoid blinding the animal and causing it to freeze.
▪ Don’t approach an animal that has been hit, even if it appears to be dead.
▪ The law requires any collision with a deer or elk off site be reported to local or state police.
