BROWN COUNTY, MN. — A southern Minnesota man riding a motorcycle suffered serious injuries after hitting a deer Wednesday evening.

The Brown County Sheriff’s Office said it responded to a report of a crash just after 1 a.m. on County Road 6 west of County Road 11.

According to the sheriff’s office, a 43-year-old motorcyclist was traveling west on County Road 6 when he struck a deer in the roadway.

The man suffered life-threatening injuries and had to be airlifted to a hospital in Rochester.

According to a report by the Minnesota Office of Highway Traffic Safety, between 2016 and 2020, 18 people died in 18 crashes involving deer, 15 of which were motorcyclist deaths.

During the same period, there were 124 accidents resulting in serious injuries, with most of those injured being motorcyclists.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety advises motorcyclists to avoid riding at night and during periods of low light, but says people who encounter deer should use both brakes and keep their heads up to increase their chances of keeping their bike upright. Swerving is acceptable if a crash is unavoidable and there is enough room to avoid the deer without leaving the roadway, the department says.