A Macon police detective shot and killed a deer after it darted in front of and struck the police car he was driving Tuesday night.

Detective John Horne, who had gone to south Monroe County to investigate a case, was returning to Macon on Ga. 74 at about 9 p.m.

Just east of Maynard Mill Road, not far from the Bibb County line, the deer ran into traffic.

“After impact the deer went into a ditch with severe injuries,” Horne wrote in an incident report. “The deer attempted to escape and had intentions of going back from whence he came. To avoid damage to passing vehicles and possible injury to motorists, I dispatched the deer with one shot from my service pistol.”