Elk Struck and Killed in Early Morning Crash Near Kearney

 

CLAY COUNTY, Mo. — An unusual early morning crash southeast of Kearney involved a vehicle striking a wild elk, according to the Clay County, Missouri Sheriff.

Deputies were dispatched around 5:30 a.m. to Summerset Road near Means Street after receiving a report of a vehicle hitting a large animal. Upon arrival, deputies contacted the Missouri Department of Conservation, whose agents confirmed the animal was a wild elk.

Officials said the elk did not survive the collision. The driver had left the scene before deputies arrived, and it is unclear whether anyone inside the vehicle was injured.

While elk populations have been reestablished in parts of southeast Missouri in recent years, sightings in Clay County are rare. Conservation officials noted that although deer-vehicle collisions are common in Missouri, elk encounters are far less typical in the Kansas City metro’s Northland.

Authorities are reminding drivers to stay alert, particularly during early morning and evening hours when wildlife is most active. Motorists traveling rural roads — including areas around Kearney and along lightly traveled stretches like Summerset Road — should reduce speed and watch for animals crossing unexpectedly.