Crook County Sheriff received a report of an injured cougar on Highway 26 east of Prineville Thursday. An unidentified driver called in to report he had struck the cat and the animal was lying near the highway.  When deputies arrived on the scene, the cougar bolted, running toward homes in the area.  Because an injured cougar in or around homes poses a serious threat to public safety, deputies contacted Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and obtained permission to kill the 90 pound cat. A Special Reserve Deputy, trained for the situation, located the cougar near a home and shot it. The cat appears to be two to three years old. It was turned over to ODFW.  No one was hurt.