X_Indian
Full Member
So this happened late November 2017, and I do apologize for my lateness in posting this.
I had taken a trip with my son (2yrs old) up to PA for a family visit. As usual we had a great time and I didn't leave my cousins house until late in the evening. My son fell asleep in the Av on the way back and I was cruising along 81S in WVA at 80mph (limit is 70), going with the flow of traffic which was light at this hour.
I got into the left lane right around exit 8 and the guardrail is right next to the road, all I see is blacktop, lane markers and guardrail. Just then I see a deer head pop above my hood to the left, felt the truck hit it like a pothole and my headlights went crooked. Nothing else felt wrong and I contemplated if I should even stop, but I got over to the left to take the shoulder anyway to check everything. As i pulled over my DIS displayed LOW COOLANT LEVEL and I thought aw damn, I'm screwed. Once stopped I shut off the engine, and checked on my son, who was STILL asleep! I let the radio stay on so he'd have music to fill the void of normal road noise. I hopped out with my light to check the damage. My big girl took a hard hit in the face and was leaking fluids everywhere. As sad as I was, I was happy she sacrificed her looks for my son and I to be unscathed.
I called my wife who was 45 mins away at home and told her what happened, we were okay and get on the road to meet us. Arranged for a tow (whole other story that was ridiculous, but F Allstate's roadside un-assistance...), thank goodness for AAA.
My wife arrived shortly before the Tow Truck and my son stayed sleeping right up until we needed to load onto the flatbed (he was then transferred to my wife's car).
The Tow Truck Driver was chill, he said (and I'm sure any of you who drive the 81 corridor between Winchester VA and Martinsburg WVA know), that the area is notorious for deer strikes. He got me to the only body-shop i knew in Winchester and the picture is what I took from the drop-off. I have more, but this one shows the most damage.
I had taken a trip with my son (2yrs old) up to PA for a family visit. As usual we had a great time and I didn't leave my cousins house until late in the evening. My son fell asleep in the Av on the way back and I was cruising along 81S in WVA at 80mph (limit is 70), going with the flow of traffic which was light at this hour.
I got into the left lane right around exit 8 and the guardrail is right next to the road, all I see is blacktop, lane markers and guardrail. Just then I see a deer head pop above my hood to the left, felt the truck hit it like a pothole and my headlights went crooked. Nothing else felt wrong and I contemplated if I should even stop, but I got over to the left to take the shoulder anyway to check everything. As i pulled over my DIS displayed LOW COOLANT LEVEL and I thought aw damn, I'm screwed. Once stopped I shut off the engine, and checked on my son, who was STILL asleep! I let the radio stay on so he'd have music to fill the void of normal road noise. I hopped out with my light to check the damage. My big girl took a hard hit in the face and was leaking fluids everywhere. As sad as I was, I was happy she sacrificed her looks for my son and I to be unscathed.
I called my wife who was 45 mins away at home and told her what happened, we were okay and get on the road to meet us. Arranged for a tow (whole other story that was ridiculous, but F Allstate's roadside un-assistance...), thank goodness for AAA.
My wife arrived shortly before the Tow Truck and my son stayed sleeping right up until we needed to load onto the flatbed (he was then transferred to my wife's car).
The Tow Truck Driver was chill, he said (and I'm sure any of you who drive the 81 corridor between Winchester VA and Martinsburg WVA know), that the area is notorious for deer strikes. He got me to the only body-shop i knew in Winchester and the picture is what I took from the drop-off. I have more, but this one shows the most damage.