Oregon State Police Sergeant Injured in Crash with Bull Elk on Interstate 84 West of La Grande

Oregon State Police Spokesman Greg Hastings says this crash is another reminder to all motorists of the potential danger while traveling when animals are on or near our highways.

Photos: Oregon State Police

(SALEM, Ore.) - An Oregon State Police Sergeant responding to a reported traffic crash was injured Thursday night when his patrol car struck a bull elk on Interstate 84 about twelve miles west of La Grande.

Other officers investigating the crash say the elk partially went through the driver's side front windshield, hitting and injuring the officer.

Spokesman Greg Hastings with OSP says this crash is another reminder to all motorists of the potential danger while traveling when animals are on or near our highways.

It happened when OSP Sergeant Robert Cannon and Sergeant Jason Stone were responding from different directions to a reported traffic crash on Interstate 84 near milepost 243, Thursday at 10:45 PM.

Cannon was driving eastbound near milepost 244 when he struck a bull elk on the highway. The elk came over the patrol car's hood and impacted into the driver's side windshield.

Unable to keep control, the patrol car went off the eastbound lanes and down an embankment before coming back onto and across the highway. The patrol car came to a stop against the center concrete barrier.

Sergeant Cannon was able to advise OSP dispatch that he had been involved in a crash. Sergeant Stone arrived a couple minutes later and provided first aid until medical personnel arrived.

Sergeant Cannon was transported by ambulance to Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande for treatment of facial injuries, broken bones and contusions. He was released Friday morning.

Sergeant Robert Cannon, age 55, is a 22 1/2 year veteran of OSP. He is currently assigned as a Patrol Sergeant at the Pendleton Area Command office. He previously worked at the OSP office in The Dalles.

Union County Sheriff's Office and ODOT assisted at the scene. The left eastbound lane was closed about 1 1/2 hours during the investigation.

As in this case, motorists may unexpectedly come upon animals on or near our highways. The Oregon State Police and ODOT would like to offer the following driving tips and reminders as it relates to animal encounters on or near the highway:

* Be attentive at all times, especially sunset to sunrise for any potential hazard on or near the highway. * When driving in areas that have special signs indicating the possible presence of animals/wildlife use extra caution because these signs are posted for a reason. * Remember that the presence of any type of animal/wildlife could also mean that others are nearby. * When you see an animal/wildlife near or on the roadway, reduce your speed and try to stay in your lane. Many serious crashes are the result of drivers swerving to avoid wildlife or other obstacles and they crash into another vehicle or lose control of their own vehicle. * When driving a passenger vehicle, always wear your safety belt because any collision could result in serious injuries. According to ODOT's Summary of Motor Vehicle Traffic Crash statistics for 2005, there were 596 reported traffic crashes involving an animal. Of those, three were fatalities and in 142 crashes there were reported injuries.