DeKalb County man dies in crash after swerving to avoid deer near Hampshire

A Cortland man died after a single-vehicle crash near Hampshire Saturday in which he apparently swerved to avoid a deer.

Kane County sheriff's deputies were dispatched about 1:30 a.m. Saturday to the crash scene near the intersection of Peplow and Ellithorpe roads, authorities said.

The initial investigation indicates that a red Ford Focus driven by James D. Coffman, 50, was southbound on Peplow Road approaching Ellithorpe Road when a deer crossed in front of the vehicle. Coffman swerved and lost control, causing the vehicle to roll at least twice before crashing into a utility pole, sheriff's police said.

Coffman, the only person in the car, was taken to Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital in DeKalb, where he was pronounced dead.

The crash remains under investigation, according the sheriff's office.