Driving on 87 in NY around 11pm. Suddenly there's a huge *thwack* on the side of the car. Next thing I know I'm looking at the terrified eyes of a deer with a whole lot of antlers. Then I'm looking at the guardrail, the guardrail on the other side of the road, back to the first aaaand one more time till I settle in the middle of the highway facing sideways.

I was doing 70mph, and this buck hit me hard enough to send me into a spin. I'm sure my automatic reaction to turn away from it also contributed. Though, the amazing thing about this is my only damage was a completely destroyed side mirror/casing. Some hoof scratches in the bottom of the door, dented chrome trim and antler gouges in my driver's side window. No major dents in the door, no broken glass (thank gawd - he would've been driving if he got through).

I'm don't know if this demonstrates the astounding amount of good luck in a bad situation or MINI's tough little nature.

I think MINI's handling saved me from the guardrails. Though, not ideally "controlled" (yes, I oversteered - sending me the other way) I still felt like I was in control of the car... even if it was only to spin myself away from them.

Of course it's a few hundred to fix the mirror. The window scars and the rest I'm leaving for good story telling.

Thought I'd pass this along for those who love to see how the MINI performs under pressure.

The deer disappeared - probably to tell his friend... "There's no way I coulda jumped that MINI."

 

I am glad that you are OK and I am happy that the deer didn't get killed - there is nothing sadder than a dead Bambi Sorry about your MINI, though, but it seems to have done well. My sister hit a deer with her Suburban and did $10,000 damage!

 

I see and dodge bambi almost ever day,some moving,some laid out on the road,left by those in big 4x4 s who don't care what they hit,and others who are still moving.My MINI makes missing them all easier,but glad you are ok

 

why did jesus have to kill bambi's mommy? with a semi?

no really, glad you are ooookay!

Now, go practice missing animals on the road with small children. they're more feisty sometimes.

 

Tell me you have pictures of your car!

 

I could take a couple pics - then I'd just have to learn how to post them. hehe.

Thank you for the well wishes. The most annoying damage was I somehow put a 'dent' into the soft plastic MINI in the middle of my steering wheel... and I have nooooo idea how. *bracing for impact...*

 

Just so glad that you're okay, nightowl! What a wild "little" surprise! The "car"ma gods were on your side!


Clover

 

deer = 0
MINI = 1

OUCH!

Glad you are okay, doood!

 

Nightowl glad you’re OK and the MINI has only minor and easily fixable damage, but a real bummer that it happened and happy you’re here to relay the incident.

I’m just wondering if instead of trying to jump you, it was rutting with you. This sounds very similar to what happened to me about 3 years ago, but I was not as lucky.

People talk about hitting deer, but in my case I was attacked by a deer. The highway I use to drive at 2/3 AM heading for work are full of deer and I always was scanning as far forward to the sides of the road for them. Doing only 50/55 MPH I saw a huge buck well in advance but it was back from the roadway some so I kept an eye on it. As I was nearly up to it the deer lowered its head and charged the car. With the two choices of slowing down or speeding up, I choose to speed up and good thing I did.

As he rammed my car with enough force to push me to the other lane, I knew I had major damage, but was not going to stop to find out then. I stopped at a sheriff sub-station 5 miles up the road to report it and see what had happened.

From the passenger side headlight, along the door, back quarter panel and rear wing of my ’99 Mitz 3000 were either destroyed or just plain gone. Most of the parts were fiberglass so the repair bill was in the low $4000 area.

My choice to speed up saved my life. If I had slowed down I would have clipped the deer’s legs at the front of the hood and would have been toast from it coming through the windshield full broadside.

Because I drive in the very early morning hours heading to work I’m always on the lookout for them because you can never tell what they may do.

 

Better days, Nightowl!

Been discussed to death, I suppose, but deer seem to be everywhere this year... I've seen more on and by roads lately than ever! I've heard that here in Indiana the hunter population is down, and that's the reason for the problem. (Sorta sounds like a joke...)

Godspeed.

 

I had a deer run in to the side of my VW (which was black) one night while I was STOPPED. Left a nice dent in the door. Maybe the deer needed glasses? corrective lenses?

Bob

 

[QUOTE=sndwave]Nightowl glad you’re OK and the MINI has only minor and easily fixable damage, but a real bummer that it happened and happy you’re here to relay the incident.

I’m just wondering if instead of trying to jump you, it was rutting with you. This sounds very similar to what happened to me about 3 years ago, but I was not as lucky.



A few years ago a deer attacked me on a motorcycle trip up in Canada. If I hadn't have been going 80 at the time he would have put an antler in my thigh.

Talking with a bus driver later that day, he said when they are in rut they have been known to even attack buses.

 

Wowza! Glad to hear you are okay after all that.... Poor Bambi's - this time of year they are ALL out looking for their mates...:smile:

When we lived in VA, they were all over the place. They would come into our yard and eat out of our bird feeders... I kinda miss that come to think of it... Thanks for sharing with us...:smile:

Chow!

Donna

 

I wish you had gotten pictures of the deer, how many points was he?

 

About a year ago I was cruising along about 5:30 AM on my way to work drinking coffee and listening to my tunes when suddenly out of the mist comes Bambi's father. He collided with the hood and proceded down the right side of the car. 3600 dollars later my Mini was as good as new. No such luck for the deer. Good to hear no one was injured.

 

And sometimes the MINI doesn't win...

http://www.nemini.org/Forums/viewtopic/t=1210.html

Don't ask Baron about deer now...