Two injured when deer hits SUV near Lucia Falls

A La Center woman and her son were injured Friday afternoon after their sport utility vehicle hit a deer in a rural area a few miles northwest of Lucia Falls Park.

The 35-year-old woman was heading northbound in the 30000 block of Northeast 152nd Avenue when a deer suddenly ran out in front of the vehicle, causing the driver to swerve and crash into a ravine, according to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

Multiple emergency services agencies responded when it was reported at 1:04 p.m.

The woman had to be cut out of the SUV and was transported to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center by North Country EMS, said District 3 Battalion Chief Dave O’Brien.

The driver’s 9-year-old son, who was in the front passenger seat, was flown by Life Flight helicopter to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland with critical injuries.

The woman was confused and believed she had another person in the car with her, but that person had already been dropped off some place before the crash, O’Brien said.

The deer was killed on impact and found dead in the ditch. It’s common for deer to be in that area, especially this time of year, O’Brien said.

The sheriff’s office is investigating the crash and said excessive speed or impairment was not involved.

Names were not released, pending family notification.