Deer-related Car Accident in Nebraska Kills Two Children

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On Sunday night, January 27th, 14-year-old Michael Betts and 4-year-old Cora Betts were killed after the driver of their minivan, 37-year-old Michael Betts Jr., lost control of the car after trying to avoid hitting several deer that ran across the road.

The accident happened on Interstate 80 in Odessa, Nebraska. The driver tried to avoid hitting the deer, however ended up hitting one and the minivan was hit from behind by a truck pulling a car trailer. As a result, the minivan rolled and ended in a ditch.

The two children were killed and four other family members in the minivan were taken to a local hospital in Kearney, Nebraska. The driver of the truck was uninjured.

According to the State Patrol, everyone appeared to be wearing seatbelts.

Only 2% of deer-car collisions result in human fatalities while around 85% of deer-motorcycle collisions involve human fatalities. According to wildlife statistics, almost half of all wildlife-related car accidents are a result of the driver swerving to avoid an animal crossing the road.