Portland woman injured after hitting deer on I-5 near Castle Rock

Authorities say a Portland woman was injured Monday night on Interstate 5, north of Castle Rock, after a deer jumped in front of her SUV.

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Kendra C. Watkins, 38, was headed south just before 10 p.m. at milepost 52, near the border of Cowlitz and Lewis counties, when the deer jumped into the left lane from the medium, according to a Washington State Patrol press memo.

Both the deer and Watkins' SUV came to rest in the right shoulder.

Watkins was injured and transported to PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center in Longview.

Her gray 2023 Toyota 4Runner was damaged, the memo states.

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This story was originally published June 2, 2026 at 6:25 PM.