Police officer hits deer
Marion police officer Josh Whitwell hit a group of deer Feb. 25 on Sunflower Road, one mile south of Marion. The car suffered extensive damage but Whitwell was not injured.
Whitwell was responding to a call to assist a Marion County sheriff's deputy who had lost contact with county dispatch.
The deputy had a car stopped with two individuals wanted by authorities when contact was lost.
Whitwell hit the deer in the roadway, killing two of the animals on impact. The collision caused the car's airbags to deploy. Damage to the car was extensive front-end damage, driver's side damage, and the hood folded back breaking the windshield and denting the roof.
Preliminary estimates for repair to the 2002 Ford Crown Victoria is $10,027. The city purchased the car Jan. 13 and paid $13,100 for the used Kansas Highway Patrol car.
