OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt doesn’t know where an elk came from in the Cookstown area, but said it was part of a bizarre crash Sept. 22.

Schmidt said a driver’s hood and windshield were destroyed after the motorist hit the elk on Hwy. 400 at County Road 89 in Cookstown at 3 a.m.

“About a minute after the car hit the elk, a drunk driver hit the car, so there’s hazards on both ends,” Schmidt said.

The good news is the driver wasn’t injured.

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Schmidt said there have been more than 6,000 collisions involving wildlife that have been investigated by OPP this year, including one fatality.

According to Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) spokesperson Eva Bobak, the elk was travelling alone.

She said it's rare to see an elk this far south.

"Typically, this is not a common occurrence, however occasionally wildlife such as moose or elk may move outside of their typical or expected ranges," Bobak said."The elk was tagged and collared, however we are currently awaiting confirmation that this was an animal that was captured and collared by the MNRF."

MNRF was advised that an individual took the elk carcass, Bobak said, which is allowed under The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act.