News 12 AT 11 o'clock, October 19, 2009

EVANS, Ga.---The deer, a beautiful animal to see - just not on the side of the road when you are driving. For many drivers, the animal is even harder to miss.

The number of accidents with deer so far this year in Columbia County is already close to the total number from last year. There are also a lot of young drivers out there dealing with deer for the first time.

16-year-old Tyler Lucius has only been driving for about nine months, but he's already seen something that put him to the test - a huge deer.

"I came in contact with two deer, in the Northwood neighborhood," says Lucius. "I was going over a speed bump and two of them came out in front of me and one hit my hood."

The teenager is lucky. There were only minor damage to his jeep - no damage to his life.

"It sounded like a big boom and I got out cause I didn't really know what it was. I saw two animals laying on the ground and I got out to see if they were alright and they just hopped back up and started running away," adds Lucius.

De'Jon Britton's father wasn't as lucky. He hit a deer too, but it did some damage.

"He hit the deer and its body went around the side of the car and busted up the side and the front," says Britton.

Columbia County, where both teenagers live, has one of the highest deer accident rates in the area. In 2007, there were a total of 366 accidents, in 2008 there was a total of 604 crashes.So far this year there have already been 450 accidents. Emergency management officials believe this year's number will break another record.

Lucius admits he was distracted for only a second, but the outcome could have been devastating. Back in 2007 - a Columbia County deputy was in a coma after hitting a deer and there have been countless other accidents. Tyler says both of his parents have hit deer too -- now all of them are even more careful.

"I just watch out cause there's deer running around all the time," says Lucius.

WHAT TO DO WHEN APPROACHING A DEER

1) Slow down and blow your horn with one long blast to frighten the deer away
2) Use your high beams when there is no oncoming traffic to see the eyes
3) Do not touch the animal. A frightened and wounded deer can hurt you or further injure itself
4)Call 911 if you have an accident