Autobody technician Chris Kline of Kelly Chevrolet Collision Center works on the door of a Hyundai Elantra that came in to the shop with front end damage.

The number of deer-related vehicle accidents in Butler County has increased over the last few years.

Deer-related crashes have been steadily increasing since 2010, according to statistics compiled the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation from its own information, state police and other law enforcement agencies.

“In 2018 there were 171 deer-related crashes. That was a 27 percent increase from 2017,” said Jamie Arehart, community relations coordinator for PennDOT District 10, which covers Butler County.

The number of crashes hovered around 100 a year until 2010 when 126 crashes with 23 injuries and one fatality occurred.

Deer-related crashes escalated to 168 in 2014. Since then, there were 153 in 2015, 140 in 2016, 145 in 2017 and 171 last year. Injuries from last year's crashes totaled 39, which ties the county record, and one fatality.

This is an excerpt from a story published in Friday's Butler Eagle.