RALEIGH, N.C. — Researchers at North Carolina State University hope data from a surveillance camera helps reduce deer wrecks.

The camera is trained on an underpass at the Highway 15-501 bridge over New Hope Creek.

When the bridge is widened next summer, engineers will spend $1.2 million to add additional wildlife underpasses. Researchers are trying to show how fencing can guide animals to underpasses, keeping them off the roads and away from our cars.

"There are millions and millions of dollars at least in property damage and medical bills from vehicle accidents," student Andrea Kleist said. "Anything to reduce those effects and make the roads safer for humans and wildlife is a step in the right direction."

Officials said one of the worst years for deer-related crashes was in 2002, with 14,000 in North Carolina alone. Wake County had the most deer-related wrecks in the state. The wrecks caused $13 million in damages.