COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. (WZZM) - A Kent County man lost his life Friday morning after crashing into a dead deer in the middle of US 131 near 6 Mile Road.
21-year old Levi Francis of Belmont died just after 3:30 in the morning. He hit the deer, lost control of his vehicle, and at a high rate of speed, slammed his car into a tree.
It comes at the worst time of year for car-deer crashes. Kent County is at the top of the list when it comes to the number of crashes in the State of Michigan. The primary reason is that Kent County has too many deer and a dense population. The two make for a dangerous combination.
In Francis' case, he likely didn't see the dead deer until it was too late. Michigan State Police say the crash is a reminder on how dangerous deer can be to drivers. Lt. Chris McIntire, with the Michigan State Police in Rockford says, "We see the majority of our accidents; people try to swerve away from the deer. They end up going off the road."
