I was driving on the Interstate in the left most lane this evening about 7:30 and I saw a deer jump the center barrier into the path of the vehicle in front of me. There was no time for the driver in front of me to miss it. He slammed on his brakes and so did I. I was pretty sure that I would be able to stop in time, but I heard tires squeel behind me. A Dodge Durango had been following too close and was about to hit me. I swerved right into the center lane to avoid being pinched between two cars. As I was about half way into the center lane, I noticed that there was an Chevy Impala already there. I tried to move back into my lane to avoid the car, but it was too late and we collided.

We pulled over to the side of the Interstate to asses the damage and exchange information. Nobody was hurt, but there was damage to both cars. On the whole, the Impala faired better than the MINI. The plastic wheel arch on the front wheel had made the majority of the contact on the Impala. There were marks all along the rear driver's side door and there was about a quarter size paint chip/ding between the rear door and the rear wheel well. Other than the ding, the marks were like dust. I passed my finger through them, and the paint was unharmed. Like they used to say, "It'll buff right out." The Mini wasn't so lucky.

As I said, the wheel arch took most of the damage. In addition to being scraped-up, it collapsed somewhat into/under the fender. There were some paint chips along the edge of the bonnet. But the real damage looks to be panel under the scuttle and turn signal. The panel appears to have been bent slightly inwards to the body. The turn signal assembly popped out, but was able to be popped back into place. The mirror cap was scratched and there were a few paint chips on the passenger side door. Overall minor damage, but I feel that the repair bill will probably be at least $1500.

As bad as this is I feel lucky. First, nobody was hurt in this incident. Next, all three cars involved were driveable after the accident (including the one that hit the deer). Everybody was calm and friendly; from those involved to the police department and my insurance company. It will cost us some time away from our MINI and our deductible, but it's not the end of the world.

The only sad part is that a deer died. I know this sounds sappy, but it was really painful to see an animal die a needless and meaningless death. It was just gracefully jumping the center divider one second, and gone the next. It's almost enough to make one not want to drive.

 

Sorry to hear about your Mini and the deer.

Good though that no one was hurt and that your Mini will be back to good soon.

 

Sorry to hear about your accident.

Expect the unexpected. Still there may be little you can do but be lucky, actually I think you did well.

Reminds me of the time I was driving to the grand canyon about 4am just outside of town where the hotel was and just approaching the wooded area bordering the national park.

Out of the darkness I see a very large grey brown mass of fur pass right in front (at eye level) of my large rental van and I have no time even to hit the brake at about 40 mph. Somehow the fur moves out of the way and is gone into the blackness, gone and out of sight.

My best guess is it was a moose or elk and it was large and fast. If I were to hit it I would not have done so well.

 

Oh poor deer! I don't think I could've handled it that well if I'd witnessed it. :( But glad everyone was ok! Hope your MINI gets fixed soon!

 

I hit a small deer, it gave it's life... My car took a $7500 hit... Everyone is ok, but the body stuff adds up real fast...

Matt

 

Scary! Glad it worked out that way and not as bad as it could have.


There are no moose in AZ, but plenty of elk in our high country and they are big.

 

I hit a full grown doe with only 1000 miles on my Clubman - just barley hit her - she got up and ran away - $3000

Arthur

 

My sympathies on the accident. Glad to hear you and everyone was unhurt, and that the damage to your MINI was not as bad as it might have been. You made a good move to avoid being accordian'd, but there was just one too many cars on the road there.

CROC 411

 

Sorry to hear about your accident. Great to hear that everyone is ok. Hopefully the fix will be fast for you and you will be motoring again!

 

So sorry, roverlandpark, to hear about this incident.

Glad to hear that there were no human injuries and the MINI did it's job protecting you.

Sad to hear that the deer didn't make it.

I can sympathize / empathize, as I was struck by a deer that ran right into the side of my vehicle, striking & crushing in the driver's door ($2300 damage).

It too was leaping gracefully onto the road surface, unawares of its impending doom. One minute all was well, then... It was over!

Good luck in getting the MINI up and running. Your MINI will be back in the saddle before you know it!

Be safe & Motor On!

 

This is why down here in the south, in major deer country, I always drive in the left lane of the interstate. (Whoops, I just realized the OP was in the left lane too... hah. We never have deer come over the median..) Yet to have a trooper pull me for it, so I'll keep doing it. On two lane roads at night, if no one else is on the road, I hug the yellow line just in case.

Also, does it annoy anyone else that larger vehicles tend to think they can stop on a dime and so they'll drive inches from your MINI?

 

Sorry to hear about your accident.

Am I only one on here who doesn't care that the deer died? If one hits me or the other way around I hope it perishes. Those things nearly give me a heart attack every night on my way home from work!! They have to be the most stupid animal I have ever seen!!!!

 

Glad you're OK, roverland, where did this happen? On I-35 or?

 

Northbound I-35 just about half a mile south of the 95th St exit. Just odd that there would be deer in that area. Now if this were 95th @ I-435, it wouldn't suprise me in the least. The Lenexa police officer who completed the report said that this was only the second one she had heard of in this area.

 

Also, does it annoy anyone else that larger vehicles tend to think they can stop on a dime and so they'll drive inches from your MINI? -- reyd1

You should hear the stream of expletives I utter when a big vehic tailgates me. I change lanes as soon as I can to get out of the twit's way. I also get annoyed when the car behind me pulls up within inches of my bumper at a red light. I let the stream of expletives commence.



CROC 411

 

Wow.. I'm not too far from here...it is odd that there is deer there as there's not too much greenspace in that area.

North of 95th and 435 is deer haven these days...even with all the McMansions being built here.

Anyways..sorry to hear about the MINI...I'd recommend Evelands, they were great. My only complaint would be my bonnet alignment where a couple fender screws weren't tightened but Baron did me up right.

 

Thanks for the recommendation of Eveland's. I have heard good things about them and will definitely be sending the business their way. Unfortunately, they're not one of State Farm's partner shops, so I have to wait for an adjuster to give me an estimate. Hopefully, I can get it to them by Wednesday and have the MINI back by MINI's in the Market on the 29th.

 

did anyone clean the deer?

 

Roverland, have any pictures to post.
We like to guess the damage estimate before the dealer.

 

I'm an ecologist in NW Connecticut, pretty much the most rural/intact part of the state (a matrix of large forest blocks, farms, and small villages). The deer population in CT is closely tracked because of Lyme Disease, and all studies indicate that the deer density is highest in the SW corner - down by NYC - where the housing development density is highest. Deer like the openings and edges and fancy landscaping plant-delicacies in developed areas, which translate into a richer resource base than in the more rural areas. Deer predators like Eastern Coyote (another opening and edge species) have a higher population density there, too. Some studies indicate that the typical SW CT coyote is taking four to eight deer per year, compared to two to four in the rural NW quadrant of the state. You're more likely to have a deer HBC (Hit By Car) in Greenwich than near Lime Rock Park.

It's also worth noting that deer commonly travel in pairs or small groups, and so when you see that first deer cross the road, there's a pretty good chance that there is another right behind it. That second deer is often the one that scores the collision.

Another bit of deer country wisdom, that is a rule in moose country: if a collision is imminent and you have a choice, steer for the tail end. The idea is to spin the animal away instead of having it come onto the bonnet and into the cabin.

I manage 8000 acres of wildlife refuges and even after hundreds of sightings/interactions, I am still always thrilled to see white tails in their native habitats. They are an extraordinary species, impossibly delicate yet durable, and are much misunderstood.

I'm glad that you weren't injured in the accident!

 

I grew up in the sticks...stopped counting after I hit my 5th deer by the time I was 23 (always in beaters though). I also always get a thrill from seeing white tails in their native habitat.

Worst HBC (as you aptly put it) I've ever seen was a large elk that was hit dead on by a semi going at least 80....he never stopped either. Fish Lake National Forest in Utah on a frosty 7AM May morning. I was behind 1/4 mile behind him...not a pretty sight.

I stopped to try and drag it off the interstate...can't say I was successful.

 

Sucks what happened to your Mini & I'm glad you're ok, but if you've got to make the choice between hitting the person in front of you or chancing getting rear ended, take the chance on getting rear ended ! from a liability standpoint, damage to your car, damage to yourself, a smack in the rear's better than a smack in the face.

 

Here you go...

http://picasaweb.google.com/roverlan...ey=FgUdRO4oQnE


I'm guessing that the front fender will need to be replaced along with the plastic wheel arch. The scratch on the door can probably be repaired. I'm not sure about the hood though. There's a crease and some scratched paint that parallels the wheel arch. I'm not sure if they'll be able to repair that or if they'll need to replace the hood.

 

Yah, I dunno I don't feel sad for those deer one bit. I am from atlantic canada and deer/moose accidents kill quite a few people. I am glad everyone made it out of that accident safely. My mother was fortunate to survive a moose accident when I was younger, managed to duck down and miss the jagged shard of metal that would of decaptitated her when the moose ripped the roof off. It's a terrible thing.

 

Sorry about your Mini and the deer and glad you're ok!! Deer incidents can be deadly!!!!

My husband and I hit a deer a few years ago while driving along 41 in Indiana late at night. (no mini yet- this was his old car) She bolted across the road right in front of us and we hit her head on. She flew to the side of the road and there was some damage to his front grill, headlight and hood. We doubt she survived.

We were both wigged out for the rest of the drive. Even now- over 3 years later, I HATE driving in wooded areas at night. It scares the living crap out of me.