Watch: Flying Deer vs. Police Cruiser

October through December is prime deer season throughout much of the country, including in Rhode Island, leading to an increase of car accidents involving the animals.

The animals often sprint out of the woods into the road, running into passing cars. a recent collision with a police cruiser, caught on dashboard camera, is a reminder of the dangers of driving in deer country. The accidents can cause heavy damage to vehicles — averaging more than $4,000 in damage per collision — as well as injuries to passengers, and even death. Nearly 200 people die on average every year in accidents with deer.

While the accident involving the police cruiser took place in Kentucky, the odds of a similar collision in Rhode Island are nearly as high. There is about a 1 in 250 chance of striking a deer at some point during the year in the commonwealth, according to carinsurance.com. But the odds of such a crash double at this time of year.

Incidentally, West Virginia is the most likely state to hit a deer. Drivers have a 1 in 44 chance of a collision there.