1526780

My sister-in-law, Esther Munroe, struck a cow elk at approximately 2030 hours on 01/19/18. According to her statement, she was traveling northbound on Lawrence Road, north of Bunco Road and south of Sonshine Way. She was traveling at an estimate speed of 35 mph when a group of elk exited the treeline on the east side of Lawrence Road and walked onto the roadway, heading west toward the Silverwood Parking lot. She applied the vehicle brakes, but did not swerve for fear she would not be able to maintain control of the vehicle. Her vehicle struck a cow elk, estimated to be one to two years of age, in the head/neck. Vehicle impact was to the driver's side front bumper and headlight assembly. The front axle of the vehicle came to rest on top of the animal. The elk was initially alive, but had non-survivable head trauma (unable to move, blood coming from inside ear and leaking from eye). The elk was dispatched by her husband, Micah Munroe, who was traveling behind her in a second vehicle. Micah contacted me for assistance and to see if the animal was salvageable which it was. The cow elk was not pregnant, and it is unknown how many other elk were in the heard. The animal was retrieved whole from the road and gutted off site to prevent further hazard.