Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Mary Richards and Nicole Gonzales reportingA man is dead after his motorcycle hit a deer this morning in Salt Lake City.
The accident happened near 1300 east near 1400 South at 5:15 a.m.
Officers say 37-year-old Kenneth Duckworth was wearing a helmet and wasn't speeding.
Salt Lake City police Lt. Gary Young said, "[It] looks like he did attempt to brake, but it was too late. From the impact, they were all in the same general area, meaning he didn't have too much travel after hitting the deer. He was separated from his motorcycle at the point of the impact."
Police say the deer probably jumped into the street and the man didn't have enough reaction time. Salt Lake City police Lt. Rich Brede says, "We have had deer hit vehicles, but when it's a motorcycle you are a little more exposed to the elements."
Duckworth was thrown 20 feet from his motorcycle and landed near a car parked on the side of the road. Both the deer and motorist were killed on impact.
The officer on scene was surprised a deer was down in the valley this late in the year, but the Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) said that's common. Anis Aoude, with the DWR, said, "Deer live in our urban area year-round. They don't migrate. Wherever there's a habitat for them, they can live. All they need is water, food, a place to live, [and] shelter; that's provided here in the urban areas."
It may have been too dark this morning for the motorcyclist to spot the deer ahead of time.
E-mail: mrichards@ksl.com
E-mail: ngonzales @ksl.com
