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Deer hits vehicle, lands in rear seat [UPDATED]
Published 7:12am Wednesday, November 10, 2010 Updated 9:50am Wednesday, November 10, 2010When Jerry Nelson drove home from work Monday evening, the last thing he expected to find was a deer in the back of his car.
But that’s exactly what he found after the 60-year-old Battle Lake resident struck an oncoming deer on County Highway 16, west of Stony Point Road.
Nelson was driving home from work at Lakeside Repair in Underwood to his home on Girard Beach Road. He was traveling east along County Highway 16 when the headlights from an oncoming vehicle blocked his view of the road in front of him.
When the deer appeared from the north, Nelson said he had no time to stop, and it struck his 1998 Mercury Mountaineer SUV and broke the windshield.
“I didn’t have time to react, I didn’t even see it coming,” he said.
The deer tore off the rearview mirror, missed Nelson and landed in the rear passenger seat, where it died instantly, Nelson said. He hasn’t heard from his insurance provider yet, but said his car is likely totaled.
The area along County Highway 16 west of his home, just south of Glendalough State Park and north of West Battle Lake, has many deer, and accidents happen, but Nelson never thought it would happen to him — and he especially didn’t think one would land in the back seat of his car.
“I’ve seen pictures of them doing that before, but didn’t think it would really happen,” he said.
A similar accident happened Saturday.
A Minnesota family heading for pizza on the first day of hunting season bagged a deer instead, when a small buck struck by an oncoming car flew through their windshield and out their rear window.
Chris and Susan Blake and their 17-year-old daughter, Olivia, were injured but survived the frightening crash on Saturday along the Blue Earth County highway.
The deer struck Chris in the face and glanced off Sue before striking Olivia in the back seat. The animal’s momentum sent it through the rear window.
Chris Blake said he broke numerous bones in his face and that his daughter broke her nose and fractured her cheek. Susan Blake had scratches to her face and bruising. Olivia suffered a broken nose, fractured cheek.
