McCreary County Deputy Alex Jones and KSP Trooper Jones responded to an elk-versus-vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 27 in Greenwood on Tuesday night (October 20, 2026) at approximately 8:30 p.m.
No injuries to the driver and passengers, including a small child, were reported at the time; however, the elk, a bull, died, and the vehicle, a red Dodge Durango, was heavily damaged.
According to KY Dept. of Fish & Wildlife law enforcement officer Chris King, the elk meat was first offered to the driver and passengers of the vehicle involved in the accident before it was donated to the Beulah Mountain Children’s Home.
In addition to the Kentucky State Police, the McCreary County Sheriff’s Department, and the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, North McCreary Fire, McCreary County EMS, and McCreary County Dispatch responded to the accident.
Although elk are involved in substantially fewer large-wildlife vehicle collisions than deer, last night’s incident comes on the heels of another elk-versus-vehicle accident that occurred earlier this month on October 1, 2026, at nearly the same time of night and within yards of the same location.
In Kentucky and Tennessee, elk-vehicle collisions tend to spike from mid-September through December, largely due to the fall mating period, known as the rut. Most collisions occur at dusk and dawn, or between 6:00 p.m. and midnight, when visibility is low, and animals feed near roadways.
Chris King, KY Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, noted that there are deer and elk signs posted along the highway in Greenwood; however, the stretch of road there is very dark and has poor visibility.
Drivers should be especially cautious when driving on highways near elk restoration areas, such as the Greenwood area. If one elk is spotted crossing the road, expect more to follow. Slow down, watch the highway shoulders, and give space for herds to cross.
More than 100 elk have been killed in Kentucky crashes since 2005, with some drivers injured and vehicles heavily damaged. Because of their size, elk involved in collisions are often swept through vehicle windshields. In tonight’s accident, one of the elk’s antlers actually punctured the top of the vehicle.
