Drunk Driver In New York Arrested After Hitting A Deer

Oh Deer

State Police in New York say they arrested a woman this week for allegedly driving drunk, striking a deer, and then careening off the road, hitting a utility pole.

While deer-vehicle collisions in New York State are relatively common, ones involving drunk drivers seem to be few and far between, and an Upstate New York woman is lucky she or another driver wasn't seriously injured in the mishap.

On Tuesday, State Police say they arrested Eirene M. Thompson, 44, of Churchville, New York, for Driving While Intoxicated as well as a series of other vehicle and traffic infractions.

What Happened?

In a recent press release, State Police say that on February 24, 2025, at 2:22 A.M., Troopers responded to Townline Road in Byron for a car-deer collision. The investigation determined that the 2025 Chevrolet was traveling on Townline Road, and a deer entered the roadway.

Police allege that Thompson struck the deer and continued off the roadway, where she hit a utility pole.  Thompson refused to give a chemical test, but while interviewing her, an odor of alcoholic beverage was present.

She was arrested after failing multiple SFSTs and transported to SP Batavia for processing.

Thompson was issued traffic tickets returnable to the town of Byron Court for a later date in April 2025.

How Common Are Deer-Car Collisions in New York?

According to data, deer-vehicle collisions are common in New York, with an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 collisions yearly.  In 2023, there were 31,329 crashes with deer in New York, five of which were fatal, according to the source.