A WILD stag has been put down by a vet after a car hit it on one of Northern Ireland's busiest roads.
Police said the accident happened just before lunchtime on Wednesday on the A1 near Banbridge, Co Down - which officers described as a stretch of road that has "proved fatal".
Officers initially said the stag had been shot by a vet but they later clarified it was put down via an injection to avoid the risk of further accidents.
"A timely reminder to watch out for wild animals on the roads," the PSNI in Banbridge said. "Thankfully, no people were hurt on this occasion, but a foot or so either side here and this could have ended up going through a windscreen."
The collision happened between the turn-off for the Rathfriland Road and the Outlet shopping centre.
The A1 was closed in both directions for a time following the crash.
In October, a stag was shot dead by police marksmen after it was spotted wandering around St Patrick's Avenue in Newry, Co Down.
Police said at the time officers "were required to shoot the stag as it had become very agitated and posed a risk to the public".
In November last year a wild stag was shot dead in the grounds of Antrim Grammar School after attempts to tranquillise it failed.
Private deer herds are kept in several estates across the north, including Baronscourt in Co Tyrone; Shanes Castle in Co Antrim and Clandeboye Estate in Co Down.
Wild deer can also be found in Tollymore Forest Park in Co Down. Around 150 fallow deer are believed to live in the park.
