On Saturday February 8th 2025, my son Collin was on his way home from working in Troy shortly after 10pm. On Hwy 47 near Davis Lane, a deer jumped into the road, he slammed on his brakes but hit the deer. The deer hit the front driver side tire and caused his truck to veer into the other lane. His truck collided with another vehicle. He was knocked out from impact and the driver of the other vehicle passed away.

Collin sustained a concussion, 2 fractured vertebrae and 1 shattered vertebrae, which resulted in 6 screws, 2 titanium rods, and a bone graph/spinal fusion. He also has a fractured nose, 2 black eyes, bruised lungs and a fractured ankle. He also has a ton of bruises and aches and pains throughout his body including some possible nerve damage on his sciatica nerve. If he sits too long his sciatica nerve shoots pain into his back/butt area. If he is on his feet too long, his ankle swells and causes pain. We are truly lucky that is all and that he is still alive. It will take some time to heal but he is a walking testimony that seat belts save lives and be extra cautious for deer. 

Lincoln County's population is projected to more than double between 2000 and 2030. It is one of the fastest growing counties in Missouri, yet the highways are mostly 2 lane highways that do not have a median. In some cases the highways do not have a safe shoulder to pull over and there are no street lights. At the very least, we need street lights so drivers can see the deer before the deer are on the road in front of your vehicle. Highway 47 and Highway 79 are state highways and the travelers on these highways need and deserve street lights to get to their destination safely from dusk to dawn!