Life Flashing Before Eyes

Hazel_B

I know this is likely TMI, but I'm still in shock from my commute this morning.

This morning we are driving along the highway into the city, it was wet and slippery so everyone is focused on the highway and not what is along the side of the highway.

I see a movement on the median side of the road a couple cars ahead of us ( we are in the fast lane) and then all I see are brake lights. The car 2 or 3 ahead of us had hit a deer at 100 km / hour (60 miles per hour) and the deer flew about 15-20 ft in the air, over the cars in the next lane and into the ditch.

I'm just in awe right now and counting my blessings. First, that deer should not have flipped over the lane beside us like that, it should have flipped somewhere into traffic.. Second, the other driver maintained control over their vehicle the entire time. After the collision they signaled through traffic to the side of the road. I just can't believe that no one was hurt and only one car was affected.

Sorry for those of you who are animal lovers, I'm still queasy about seeing it and it happened about 2 hours ago.

Anyone else ever hit a deer or see someone else do it?

PaigeMcC

That is something I would hate to see *hugs*.  Sorry you had to see that hun.  What a shittttty way to start your morning.

Blue & White

Bah, that's my biggest fear

We're driving to WV for Turkey day - there are SOOOO many deer (and bears).  It's scary as heck.

Hazel_B

Thanks Paige. Growing up in the country I've known tons of people who have hit deer, but this has been the closest I've ever come.

nottheonlydreamer44

I agree with Paige not the best start to your day sweetie :::Hugs::: I have never hit a deer *knock on wood*  but I was in the car when my grandparents did, on the Pennsylvania turnpike at night no less. It was scary.

I hate seeing all the poor deer on the side of road but I'm glad when no one is hurt!!

LizzyTish88

I almost hit one one time, scared the ever living daylights out of me! I was driving on a back road at night with my cousin and a deer ran out of the woods and towards my car. I saw it coming and freaked out. I thought to myself that if I slammed on the breaks, he would come right through my window, so I slammed on the gas. Well I was so freaked out that as I slammed on the gas, I covered my eyes with my hands. I screamed and luckily my cousin grabbed the wheel and took control until it was safe to stop. My family still makes fun of me for this story, but I was terrified!

calindi

Yikes!  I've never seen a deer be hit, but my grandfather has hit them a few times as he lives in the woods of New Hampshire.  Most recently, it was 3 deers at once.  That was scary!

Have you ever thought of getting a deer whistle?  They attach to the under side of your car and whistle at high speeds - it's too high pitched for humans, but it usually scares off deer.

Hazel_B

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_life-flashing-before-eyes?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:136Discussion:6fc50918-7a0d-4180-925a-a544fd79f0fePost:5402126a-2f87-43e7-b9d0-5898511c071b">Re: Life Flashing Before Eyes</a>:
[QUOTE]I almost hit one one time, scared the ever living daylights out of me! I was driving on a back road at night with my cousin and a deer ran out of the woods and towards my car. I saw it coming and freaked out. I thought to myself that if I slammed on the breaks, he would come right through my window, so I slammed on the gas. Well I was so freaked out that as I slammed on the gas, I covered my eyes with my hands. I screamed and luckily my cousin grabbed the wheel and took control until it was safe to stop. My family still makes fun of me for this story, but I was terrified!
Posted by cdechristopher[/QUOTE]

Actually, this is essentially what I was taught to do. If you can't fully stop for a deer than you have to speed up. That way it should flip over your car and not come through the windshield at you. I guess my driver's ed teacher figured that your car would be a mess regardless of how you hit the deer.

Hazel_B

Calindi - I think deer whistles only really help on backroads, even then I'm not sure. My friend's aunt hit multiple deer one year and the whistle only seemed to attract them...to her car atleast.

motoLyn

That is not a way to start your morning.  Sorry to hear that, those deer can be crazy.  I had a deer run out and hit the rear of a car I was in, sent the back of teh car sliding side ways, the driver held control and when we got home we checked the car and there was a tuft of deer hair wedged between the bumper and the car.  Another time I was heading to the Grand Canyon with FI and it was 11 at night and we had to drive extra carefully cause deer were known to run across the road.  And lo and behold they did, thank god Fi was driving and his car can stop on a dime  The deer just stood there staring at us.  I swear their black eyes seem souless to me. Creepy!

Last Tuesday I watched as a motorcyclist clip the  back end of a car and fly up onto the back end of the car and roll off.  It unnerved me like none other cause I'm a motorcyclist and so is FI and friends, just thinking that it could have been one of my friends left me shaking.  The poor man had a broken leg and was rushed off to the hospital. 

jemmini6

That's scary, but I'm glad no one was hurt.  It's crazy to think that they can actually be deadly, a friend of mine's dad actually died swerving to miss a dear. 

[Deleted User]

I never hit one but one night I was driving back down from upstate and someone had already hit one... it was in the middle of the highway and it was dark... by the time I realized it was there I had just enough time to center it between my tires and go over it...

The other night my sister-in-law was driving my niece, nephew and I back to her house and she hit a racoon... That same night, I was driving home from her house and 5 deer charged across the street in front of me... Thank God I was going slow enough to slow down...

calindi

Mythbusters did something on speeding up vs. hitting the brakes for deer... apparently it is not as effective you'd think because the moose will fly over your car, but will basically end up still landing on your head.

Myth: If you are going to hit a moose with a vehicle, it is safer to hit it at a higher speed than to try to slow down.

BUSTED

The Build Team ran identical cars into a fake rubber moose at two different speeds. The damage from the high speed impact was located higher up on the vehicle and was more severe. It was speculated that hitting a moose at a high speed would only work with a very low car such as an F1 race car. Such a car would be able to take out the legs and clear the area before the moose fell on top of it.

Hazel_B

Calindi - That's interesting. I think the car would be a wreck regardless. The big thing is where you want the animal if it is still alive. First, you don't want antlers coming through the windshield at you or have kicking legs there. I hadn't thought about that at all until my coursin in Australia told me how dangerous hitting a kangaroo is and the power in their legs if they are still alive and trying to get off your vehicle. She said people died occassionally from being kicked to death after the accident.

Gruesome.

Either way, I think they did a bad job designing the highway by my house. They should have taken wildlife into account more.

PaigeMcC

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_life-flashing-before-eyes?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:6fc50918-7a0d-4180-925a-a544fd79f0fePost:fae2da89-4d0f-408f-8754-7a3ad5e7626a">Re: Life Flashing Before Eyes</a>:
[QUOTE]Calindi - That's interesting. I think the car would be a wreck regardless. The big thing is where you want the animal if it is still alive. First, you don't want antlers coming through the windshield at you or have kicking legs there. I hadn't thought about that at all until my coursin in Australia told me how dangerous hitting a kangaroo is and the power in their legs if they are still alive and trying to get off your vehicle. She said people died occassionally from being kicked to death after the accident. Gruesome. <strong>Either way, I think they did a bad job designing the highway by my house. They should have taken wildlife into account more.</strong>
Posted by Hazel_B[/QUOTE]

<div>Welcome to the TransCanada! hahaha.  But seriously, we have SO many moose/deer vs car accidents around here it's not even funny.  Just go carefully, keep your eyes peeled and be alert.  That's all you can do.</div>

Hazel_B

Paige - I know, but most of the time I'm trying to watch out for the crazy drivers around here and the deer are less of a priority. Not good, I know.

darkpixie04

I am glad you are ok . That must have been quite a scare. My brother in law has been hit by a deer 3 times now and he has walked away each time with no more then a few scratches. Anyway take care I know that is scary to see.