AN UNFORTUNATE ENCOUNTER

A recent automobile collision with a deer along Highway 21 in remote, rural Reynolds County ordinarily wouldn't be worthy of much comment. When the driver is Rep. Mark Richardson of Poplar Bluff, House minority leader, it is enough to receive major treatment in one of our state's metropolitan daily newspapers.

Rep. Richardson had left his capitol office late one night last month on his way home and had called his wife to tell her of his late departure. When he hadn't arrived some five hours later, she called the highway patrol, which alerted its troopers to look for him. Richardson says he came upon three deer, swerved out of the way of two of them and hit the third, whereupon his car left the road and was a total loss. Uninjured because he was wearing a seat belt, Richardson spent several hours trying to flag down cars on the remote highway and ultimately walked about five miles before being picked up by a highway patrol trooper about 6 a.m.

Rep. Richardson had an unfortunate encounter with a deer, something most Missourians can relate to. Patrol officers said neither alcohol nor excessive speed was a factor. Everything in his story is consistent with the version he told. Troopers found him right along the path his wife knew he would be taking. That should be the end of this story.