Police Blotter: Deer Crossing West Mercer Causes Accident

The population of black-tail deer on Mercer Island appears to have migrated to the South-end of the Island after a May 17 car accident killed an adult buck trying to cross the road.

A teenage driver of a BMW X3 SUV struck one of two deer crossing West Mercer Way at 9:20 a.m. as they tried to cross the road near Seashore Drive towards the water. According to reports, the driver, 18, said that the deer appeared from the forested area nearby, and ran into the road so that the driver had no time to react. The deer was killed instantly.

MIPD removed the animal from the roadway and notified animal control to remove the carcas.

According to Deputy City Manager James Mason, the population of black-tailed deer didn't arrive on Mercer Island until 2008, but have since created a sizable population of ruminants who chew through local gardens and have prompted a "Deer Crossing" sign on Road.

"Last year we had a couple of citizens who were upset that they ate food from their garden. They did a lot of damage," said Mason. "There's wildlife on the island ... people need to be safe driving on the island and be aware they're a co-existing species here."

Wednesday, May 18

(Pedestrian Accident) A female driving east on North Mercer Way at 3:05 p.m. collided with a bicyclist going west on the bike/pedestrian path who turned off the path and headed onto North Mercer Way in the 9100 block. The driver said she struck the bicyclist with the front right side of her vehicle, sustaining damage to the front right headlamp, a 12 inch dent to the front right fender and dents and scratches on the hood as well as the passenger side mirror broken and the windshield smashed. The bicyclist sustained damage to her Trek bike in the front forks broken off and a cracked frame. The bicyclist complained of possible back injuries and was transported to Overlake Hospital.

Thursday, May 19

(Found Property) A Mercer Island resident found keys laying in the road at 5 p.m. in front of her residence in the 42oo block of Shorewood Drive. There were vehicle and house keys on the ring, and the resident observed a jogger on the road 30 minutes prior to her finding the keys, so she believes they may have belonged to that individual.

Friday, May 20

(DUI) A 31-year-old Seattle man was stopped at 1:14 a.m. for expired tabs on SE 28th St on Mercer Island. A strong odor of intoxicants was detected, and the driver admitted consuming alcohol. The driver failed a sobriety field test and was arrested, and searched revealing a small amount of marijuana and rolling papers found on his person. He was later released to sober adult after processing at the Mercer Island Police Department.

(Vehicle Accident) A vehicle was stopped for traffic on the 3600 block of Gallagher Hill Road at 9:45 a.m. when it was rear-ended by a vehicle that lacked a safe following distance.

(DUI) A 17-year-old Bellevue teenager driving an Audi A4 attempted to make a left turn southbound off of East Mercer Way on to the  access road at 30 mph and lost control of his vehicle at 11:50 p.m. The car skidded over the curb and struck a bollard, street sign and tree. The driver and two passengers were unharmed, and the driver was cited for a driving infraction.

Saturday, May 21

(Found Property) A thrift shop employee found a Hotrocks 21 speed girls bicycle behind the dumpsters at the recycling center, and took it into the Mercer Island Thrift Shop for police pick up at 2:58 p.m.

(Driving Violation) A 40-year-old Auburn man was stopped for a vehicle equipment violation on eastbound I-90 at 2:28 a.m. and a driver's license check showed an outstanding warrant for his arrest. The man was booked into the King County Jail.

Sunday, May 22

(DUI) A 29-year-old male was stopped for driving while talking on a cell phone at 6:15 p.m. on the 8000 block of SE 27th Street. Upon contact with the driver, the police officer noticed the smell of alcohol on his breath. The driver took a sobriety test and failed, and was arrested on a DUI charge, and his car impounded. The man was later released to a sober adult.