Caught in the headlights! - 12/05/2007

Kandee and I were returning from the Kalamazoo Airport.  The late Michigan evening was shivering cold.  Fresh snow covered the forest floor but the highway was clear and dry.  Suddenly in my headlights, I saw several deer cross the road from the left about 15 yards in front of me.  I slowed down but continued thinking that the deer had safely crossed, but one more deer came across the road.  Next thing I know, my car hits the deer straight on and we this deer flip around in the air and land on his side in the ditch. I couldn't believe that this was happening.  It happened so fast.  What should I do now?  Kandee said that I should pull over, so I pulled over.  Hmmm?  Now what?  We are pretty sure that the deer is dead.  What is the law in Michigan? 

We decided that we should call the state patrol and at least make an accident report.  We dial 911 and get the dispatcher.  Kandee explained that we have hit a deer and wanted to notify the proper authorities.  She connected us with the Michigan State highway patrol.  After telling him what happened and where we were staying, he asked if he could meet us tomorrow and he would make the accident report.  Since it was almost midnight, we were in agreement.

We were quite traumatized by this accident.  The rest of the way home, we were on extra vigilant alert for deer.  The funny thing is I had had an interesting experience earlier in the evening on the way to pick Kandee up at the airport.  It was 9 in theevening so it was already dark.  I was still in town when I noticed an animal in a yard, running along side my car.  My immediate thought was that it was a big dog chasing my car.  But as I looked more closely, I could see that it was a deer and it was getting closer and closer to the side of my car, determined to overtake my car and run IN FRONT OF my car!!!  So I slowed down and let it cross the road in front of me!  I was so surprized to see this phenomonon.  Then later that evening, I hit a deer!!!  I am 52 years old, have done lots of driving in my lifetime and I have never yet hit a deer.  I would have to hit a deer for the first time, while driving a BORROWED car!!!!

On the next day in the light, Kandee and I could see that there was some damage to the car.  The grill broke and there was a small dent in the front of the hood.  Now we were very glad that we had called the state patrol because in order to even make an insurance claim, the owner would need an accident report.  Later that day we called the state patrol and fixed a time and meeting place.  The state patrol was nice.  He asked for my driver's licence and the papers for the car.  He told me that Michigan was the second worse state for deer accidents and that this county in Michigan was the worse county for deer accidents!  Oh, I wish I had known that bit of information before taking the wheel!

Kandee and I have talked a couple times since then about our deer accident.  Kandee said that felt like she knew what it was like to be that deer.  Hmmm?  Have you ever identified with a road kill?  Maybe many of us can identify with that.  It gave some food for thought.

I hope the car repair doesn't cost too much.  Now I can say that I know what it's like to hit a deer.  And yes, maybe I could even add that I may know what that deer felt like ... figuratively of course.