Surgeon, 66, killed after crashing car as elk ran into road in freak accident as heartfelt tributes paid

NewsWorld News A BELOVED surgeon has been killed after smashing into an elk in a freak car crash in Idaho. Dr. Mark E. Baker struck the animal while driving his 2022 BMW Z4 down a highway just north of the Utah border, according to police. Beloved Idaho Dr. Mark Baker has died after a freak car collision with an elk Credit: oralsurgery_idaho/ Instagram Social media pics show that Baker, 66, was a keen hunter Credit: oralsurgery_idaho/ Instagram Baker, 66, was pronounced dead at the scene after the horror accident, which happened at around 9.30pm on Monday. It is unclear if he was wearing a seatbelt, the Idaho State Journal reported. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Touching tributes have poured in for the late oral surgeon, who was highly regarded and well known throughout the Pocatello community. Baker practiced with the Oral Surgery Specialists of Idaho for decades. The company wrote on Instagram: “To his patients, he was a trusted surgeon who brought compassion, kindness, and dedication to every person he treated. “To his team, he was a respected colleague, mentor, and friend. “To the community, he was a physician who believed deeply in serving others.” Loved ones and colleagues flooded the post with comments celebrating Baker’s hard work and warm personality. Most read in The Sun Dr. Baker was remembered by friends and loved ones for his warm personality Credit: oralsurgery_idaho/ Instagram Car collisions with large animals like elk kill roughly 200 people a year in the US Credit: AP:Associated Press One co-worker wrote: “He was a great man and an amazing surgeon. I’m glad I had the opportunity to work for him and watch him change lives.” Another said: “He made such a meaningful impact on our dental community and will be deeply missed.” The tribute continued: “Dr. Baker leaves behind a legacy that reaches far beyond the walls of our practice. “The lives he touched, the patients he cared for, and the relationships he built will continue to be a lasting part of his story. “We are grateful for the years we shared with Dr. Baker and for the countless ways he made a difference in the lives of others.” Car crashes involving large animals like deer, elk and moose kill around 200 people a year in the US, according to The Pew Charitable Trusts. Elk are one of the largest species of the deer family, with adult males sometimes weighing over 700lbs. Comment now