We always try to keep you updated with local newsworthy events, and wouldn’t be doing our job if we didn’t share with you this August 12th News Release from the Portland Police Bureau.
Police Respond to Chicken Crossing the Road in Linnton – Officers Unable to Determine Chicken’s Intent
On Monday August 11, 2014, at 5:45 p.m., North Precinct officers responded to the report of a chicken crossing Highway 30 in Linnton, North of the St. John’s Bridge.
The call reported to the non-emergency line that the chicken was creating a traffic hazard along the highway.
Responding officers were unable to locate the chicken and fortunately there were no traffic crashes related to this unusual report.
Seriously though, animals in the roadway creating traffic hazards are no laughing matter. According to statistics from the Oregon Department of Transportation’s Crash Analysis & Reporting Section, wildlife-involved traffic collisions have been on the rise in Oregon. Last year, ODOT received reports of 1,283 such crashes, up from 1,199 reported in 2011, and approximately 30 percent higher than the number reported in 2007 (903 reported crashes).
Here are recent examples of these crashes:
- On October 31, 2013, two people traveling at night westbound on Highway 140W near milepost 65 swerved to avoid a deer in the road. The vehicle’s driver lost control, traveled across both lanes, and overturned after striking an embankment. Both occupants were not injured.
- On September 24, 2013, a commercial truck driver traveling at night eastbound on Highway 26 near milepost 82 in Wasco County struck a bull elk. The truck and tanker trailer overturned, blocking the highway for several hours. The truck driver received serious, but non-life threatening injuries.
- On September 8, 2013, a commercial truck driver traveling before sunrise southbound on Highway 97 south of Grass Valley swerved to avoid several deer in the roadway. He lost control and rolled off the highway. The truck driver received non-life threatening injuries.
- On June 23, 2013, a motorcyclist traveling during daylight hours on Highway 19 west of Spray in Wheeler County struck a deer and was found deceased by a passing motorist.
ODOT statistics indicate since 2003 there have been more than 9,400 reported wildlife-involved collisions in Oregon, thirty (30) of which resulted in a fatality. More than a third of the total reported crashes occurred September – November. Since 2008, Oregon counties with the highest number of reported wildlife-involved crashes are Lane, Clackamas, Deschutes, Douglas, and Jackson.
Oregon State Police, Oregon Department of Transportation and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife urge drivers to be aware of the possible dangers associated with animals on or near our highways.
If you see animals (or people) in or near the roadway potentially causing a traffic hazard, in Portland call the Police Non-Emergency line at (503) 823-3333. The Non-Emergency line for Oregon State Police is 503-375-3555.