Wild elk dies in motor crash north of Copenhagen

A driver struck and killed a wild elk on the Helsingør Motorway on Monday morning.

The crash happened at 6:10 a.m. near Nivå. It occurred between Kokkedal and Humlebæk.

North Zealand Police reported the crash. A 36-year-old woman was driving north in the inside lane.

The animal appeared just a few meters ahead. The driver was not injured.

Her car suffered heavy damage. Its windshield and rear window shattered. Its roof and hood were damaged.

Officers found the dead elk 100 meters away. Denmark has no native wild elk.

However, Swedish elk live in Lille Vildmose in Himmerland. That group grew to 20 by 2020.

Officials plan to release elk in Gribskov this year. Wild elk also swim from Sweden.

Expert Morten Elmeros from Aarhus University said this happens once every ten years.

In mid-September, an elk damaged a fence near Hundested. Source: CPH Post.