1/26/2009

A Saline County sheriff’s deputy responding to a domestic disturbance report in Falun before sunrise Saturday crashed his patrol truck when he encountered a black cow in the road. Deputy Kristopher G. Kite, 25, was treated at Salina Regional Health Center after he was cut out of the truck, which crashed at 5 a.m., said Sheriff Glen Kochanowski. Kite has worked for the sheriff’s office for more than a year. Kite was driving about 65 miles an hour west on Falun Road when he saw the cow, Kochanowski said. He swerved in an attempt to miss the animal and clipped the cow’s hind legs. The pickup went into the ditch, then turned sideways and rolled at least once, he said. Another officer on his way to the call in Falun discovered the crash, checked on Kite’s welfare and then went to Falun. Kochanowski said he was relieved the deputy’s injuries weren’t more serious. Kite minor scrapes and bruises and injuries to his back. He was protected by his seat belt and air bag. Kochanowski said rural drivers need to remember the safest thing to do when they come across an animal in the road is to resist the urge to swerve and go ahead and hit the animal. Hitting the animal does less damage and causes fewer injuries than a roll-over crash, he said. Kochanowski estimated the loss of the 2008 truck at around $25,000. A $5,000 onboard camera, $3,000 computer and radio equipment will be evaluated to determine damage, he said. Until the insurance claim is settled, Kochanowski said deputies will use a vehicle assigned to the Sheriff’s Office Reserves.