I’d been warned over an over, as well as heard horror stories from co-workers and family, about the hazards of living and working in a rural setting, and had a few close calls, but tonight it happened.  After five years of living out in the boonies, my luck ran out -  I hit a deer, or more accurately, a deer hit me.

Today has been overcast and misty – leading to a really thick fog this evening and making it very difficult to see to drive.  I was coming home from a shopping trip in Columbia (a 45 minute drive) and was only about a half a mile from home.  I’m doing about 50 mph in a 55 mph zone with a truck with 6 front lights (why do trucks and cars have to have more than the standard two headlights?) riding my bumper and casting a glare in my mirrors.  I can barely see in front of me and knew better than to let this guy force me to go faster.

I should have just slowed down and said to heck with the idiot behind me, but you know the saying about hind-sight.  I “saw” something up ahead – just large shadows on the road – and had slowed down to about 40 when I came up on two deer standing in the road.  One was in the middle of the road and the other was on my side of the road, close to the edge of the road and he/she jumped to safety.  The other one started to run to the opposite side, but suddenly turned and JUMPED at my car, I guess to go with it’s mate.  It hit me at the front driver side nose/wheel/door and I don’t think I’ll ever forget the crunching sound.  I slowed down even more, looking in my rear view mirror, but all I can see is the lights of idiot behind me.  I’ve slowed down to about 30, but the truck is still riding my rear.  I’m screaming and crying – I can’t stand to see an animal in pain/hurt, and thinking that I just hurt and possibly killed a deer is still eating me up.

As I said, I was only about a half a mile from home, so I keep driving, tears streaming down my face.  When I get home, I beg my stepfather to go back and make sure it’s not in the road and/or ensure it’s dead and not suffering.  We go out and inspect my car first, and there was no damage, leading him to believe it may not have been so bad.  He drives off down the road and comes back and tells me he didn’t see it in or off the side of the road – I’m not sure I believe him as I think he’s just trying to spare my feelings.  He says it must have just been stunned and was able to run off back into the woods.  I pray that is true.

Thanks for putting up with my story.  I had to get it out so I can let the incident go.  I know things could have been a lot worse – I could have been hurt and/or run off the road if I’d let the jerk behind me goad me into going as fast as I normally drive – despite the fog.  And/or I could have stopped suddenly and caused the truck behind me to hit me or my Honda Element to flip.  But thankfully, those things didn’t happen.  And I have to hold onto the hope that since the deer wasn’t in the road and my car wasn’t dented or scratched up that the deer wasn’t seriously hurt, too!