Fall is here, and that means more deer will be on roadways in the Mahoning and Shenango Valleys. That's why the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is reminding drivers to stay alert for deer.

According to a press release, the number of deer-related crashes in Pennsylvania has been rising since 2020, with 2024 setting a five-year high of 6,426 deer-related crashes.

Locally, Mercer County saw a five-year total of 538 deer-related crashes, with 104 of those resulting in injuries and three resulting in fatalities.

2023 and 2024 saw the highest amount of crashes per year in Mercer County, with 122 crashes reported in both years. Two of those were fatal in 2023, and one was fatal in 2024.

Mike Tautin, a community traffic safety project coordinator with the Highway Safety Net

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