40,000 crashes due to animals

AROUND 40,000 road accidents were caused last year by collisions between drivers and wild animals.

Head of compensation at the Fonds de garantie automobile Michel Merlet warns people not to try and avoid an animal if it comes into their path.

He said: “Trying to avoid the animal means taking the risk of ending up with your car smashed up against a tree and killing yourself.”

Around 30 people are killed each year by road accidents involving wild animals.