A close friend's 2006 Mini Cooper impacted a deceased Elk on I-25 last night at 80MPH, deploying all airbags and spinning off the Interstate. The pilot survived, but only at the sake of the Mini itself. A testament to excellent engineering, or a brave Mini sacrificing itself to save it's beloved pilot? I ask this of you.

If you are not familiar with elk, they are NOT deer. An elk is a Ford F250, where as a deer is a Ford Ranger.

His 2006 MC is survived by his friend's 2007 MCS. He was 18 months old. A memorial service is planned for close friends and family.

Light a candle and take a moment of silence to reflect on your own Mini experience, and how much joy it brings you.

 

Major bummer! Glad the pilot survived.
I hit an elk once - it was alive and then it was not, I was driving a Kenworth at the time and it still rocked my world. Don't even want to think about it in a MINI.

 

RIP brave Mini...Glad the driver was OK!

 

I'm glad to hear your friend is ok. Indeed, our MINIs are a true source of joy, and safety, in each of our lives. I hope he is motoring again soon.

 

Glad to hear that the MINI did its job even if it didnt make it at least your friend did.

 

Ok...I have to ask.

How did your friend hit a dead elk?

I had a semi hit a huge bull elk in front of me on I-70 in Eastern Utah a few years ago... I got sprayed with *ahem* gore (thank you Mustang convertible), but I avoided the various bits and pieces on the road.

I did pick a piece of antler out of my back seat though when I stopped for gas in Grand Junction later that day..

 

Sorry for the loss of a MINI...but I must say these cars are truly impressive under duress. People who just think of MINIs as "cute cars" have no idea.

 

Another brave MINI passes...

 

it touches my heart, each and every one of these minis that make such a sacrifice!

 

Man oh man! I just visited Rocky Mountain National Park to see the elk last weekend. We sat quietly at the edge of a meadow and a herd of them came very close to us. Yes, they are rather large. More the size of a horse than a deer. One night, I hit a horse that was standing in the road. My Eurovan was totaled. The thought of hitting one in a MINI makes me shudder.

My condolences for the lost MINI.

 

Probably in a similar way my Dad hit a dead horse in the road about 15 years ago with his Acura Integra. It was dark, he's going down a State Highway at about 60 mph, a truck veers out of his lane in front of him to avoid the horse, Dad didn't have time to react. Smack.

F'd up his Acura pretty good, as you might imagine.

Better to hit a dead one than a live one though... a live one is bound to go flying and may well land on your roof/windshield. The dead one didn't move much at all, kind of like hitting a wall made out of.... well... horse meat.

Ps. Condolensces to the deceased MINI. It gave it's life bravely and may it RIP.

 

i would love to see what the mini looks like after that impact.