Sambar deer dies after van hits it on KJE; driver assisting police investigations

A 68-year-old man is assisting with ongoing police investigations after he allegedly knocked down a sambar deer along the Kranji Expressway (KJE) on Sunday (Aug 30) night.

The deer was found dead by a team from the National Parks Board (NParks).

The incident happened at about 8.20pm along the expressway towards the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE).

A four-second video of the aftermath, taken by a passing motorist, shows the injured deer crouched on the leftmost lane of the expressway. 

It is seen with its mouth open and appearing to breathe heavily, possibly indicating distress or shock.

A trail of an unidentified substance, possibly from the mammal, is seen in front of it.

Some debris, which appears to be broken glass, is also scattered across the lane.

In response to AsiaOne's queries, the police confirmed that they were alerted to a traffic accident involving a van and a sambar deer, adding that police investigations are ongoing.

The deer's carcass was later removed by the NParks team. 

How Choon Beng, group director for wildlife management at NParks, said in a reply to AsiaOne that motorists should drive within speed limits and be alert to animals crossing when driving along roads flanked by forested areas, especially where there are signs to indicate animal crossings.

He also reminded members of the public not to handle injured wild animals on their own.

According to the Road Traffic Act, motorists must stop if their vehicles caused injury or death to any animal as long as they can "reasonably tell" that the animal has an owner or that the animal's presence on the road is "likely to pose any safety hazard" to other road users. 

All animal species are covered under the Act.

In such cases, motorists can call NParks' 24-hour Animal Response Centre at 1800-476-1600, or the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACTRES) at 9783-7782.

If the animal is dead, the National Environment Agency should be contacted at 1800-2255-632 for removal of the carcass.

In the event that the accident has caused obstruction to traffic, of if the animal's presence on the road is likely to endanger road users, the police must be immediately informed.

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