A recent Virginia motorcycle accident has Virginia State Police warning those on motorcycles to watch out for deer and other wildlife on the roads.

A Harrisonburg man taking a Sunday drive on his motorcycle last weekend was not speeding, drinking, or being reckless – but a deer jumped into the road from a nearby field, killing the man instantly. Although he was wearing a helmet, 62-year-old Benjamin Miller died instantly in this tragic VA motorcycle accident.

Virginia ranks in the top ten states for deer-vehicle collisions, and wildlife collisions cause an average of $3,000 of property damage per accident. In the case of motorcycle drivers, deer collisions are often fatal. Police say to be extra vigilant when driving near dusk and dawn, or when driving in agricultural areas. Drivers and riders should also look for deer crossing signs, which are placed in high deer traffic areas.