A Delivery Van Hits Moose On Highway In Central South Dakota

While driving in South Dakota, people are accustomed to watching for deer along the roadways.  So when a man driving a delivery van north of Miller, South Dakota, struck something on the road, he was a bit surprised to find out that he had actually collided with a moose.

The delivery van driver was aware that he had collided with something, but was able to continue down the road for about another 20 miles before his van broke down.  The driver then called the the Hand County Sheriff’s Office to report that he had possibly hit a deer.

Authorities estimate that the delivery van was driving about 65 mph when it struck the hind quarters of the moose, causing the moose to break it's back and then die.  Even though the moose weighed between 1,200 and 1,300 pounds, there was only minor damage to the delivery van's front right passenger’s side.

The Game, Fish and Parks conservation officer said that the moose was taken to a meat locker to salvage as much meat as possible that will probably be donated to Sportsmen Against Hunger.

There had been reports of people seeing a cow moose in that area and the conservation officer believes this was that moose.  Last month, a young male moose was also seen on the south side of Aberdeen.

Source:  Aberdeen News