The crash occurred in the Alaskan city of Wasilla in the early hours of August 28, according to the Wasilla Police Department, which released details of the incident in a news bulletin.
Per mile driven, Alaska has one of the highest rates of moose-vehicle collisions in the world, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, with the huge animals having a tendency to dart into oncoming traffic, and it is likely that over 800 vehicle accidents are caused by moose collisions each year.
Collisions can be deadly, both for the moose and for the road users involved.
Police said the August 28 crash occurred after they attempted to stop the motorcyclist involved, named as 36-year-old David Nagl of Wasilla, for “speeding, failing to stop for a stop light, failing to signal, and driving off the roadway while navigating a right turn.”
According to the police report, Nagl failed to stop for the officers and fled on his motorcycle for an unspecified amount of time before he impacted a moose at a speed estimated to be in excess of 100 miles per hour near the intersection of N Jasper Drive.
Moose are huge animals that can stand up to seven feet tall at the shoulder and weigh 1,300 lbs, according to the encyclopedia Britannica.
Nagl was pronounced dead at the scene, police said, and next of kin have been notified. The report did not specify what happened to the moose.
Moose can be found in northern parts of North America and Eurasia. In Alaska, people and moose have coexisted for thousands of years.
On its website, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game warns people to look out for moose on roadways, particularly in winter when moose-vehicle collisions are most common.
The department states that motorists who encounter wildlife in or near the road should slow down, especially when visibility is reduced; be alert; keep ample distance from other cars; look for more moose; know moose hotspots; and use hazard lights to warn other drivers.
Animal-vehicle collisions more widely are a deadly and hugely costly issue in the U.S. According to Pew Trusts research, there are an estimated one million to two million large animal collisions each year, causing approximately 200 human deaths and at least $8 billion in damage and other costs—not to mention the threat to wildlife.
