Community Corner

Runner Knocked Out by 'Flying' Deer: 'Im Surprised I Made it Out Alive'

Vehicle strikes deer, deer lands on jogger.

With deer populations in developed areas apparently soaring, encounters with humans are sometimes creating havoc. In this case in Ashburn, VA, major injury was avoided.

Keep reading for details and for tips on how to avoid facing a mishap with deer.

Krystine Rivera was jogging on a path near the Dulles Greenway when an SUV driven by a 71-year-old woman struck a deer and sent it flying — right on top of Rivera, according to an account of the incident in The Washington Post.

Rivera, 27, remembers only that she was running one minute and then waking up in an ambulance the next, the Post reported.

The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office said the buck died at the scene and that the driver was treated at Inova Loudoun Hospital and released.

Rivera told the paper she suffered a concussion, a cut to her scalp and a bruise to her right knee.

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“I was running, then I was on the ground and then was listening to the paramedic," she said. "I’m surprised I made it out alive.”

She's not sure how she'll recount this story in the days and years to come.

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“It’s hard to know where to start," she told the Post. Maybe, ‘I was out for a run one day . . . ’ No, actually I probably have to start with, ‘This really strange thing happened to me once.’ ”

What To Do to Avoid a Deer, Or Other Animal, that Might Run In Front Of Your Vehicle:

·         Scan the road ahead: Looking ahead helps provide enough reaction time if an animal is spotted. Also, remember some animals, like deer, move in groups, so when there is one, there are usually more in the area.

·         Use high beam headlights if there’s no oncoming traffic: This can help you spot deer or other wildlife sooner and give you time to slow down, move over or honk the horn to scare the animal away. High beams also help in spotting animals’ reflective eyes.

·         If a collision is unavoidable, apply the brakes firmly and remain in your lane: Swerving to avoid an animal can often cause a more serious crash or cause you to lose control of your vehicle. What’s more, drivers who swerve to miss a deer and hit something else may be charged for an at-fault accident.

·         Be extra cautious at dawn and dusk: Deer tend to be more active in the early morning and at dusk.

·         Slow down and use extra caution when traveling through areas with a high and active wildlife population: Be aware of increased deer movement in rural areas during the fall and early winter, as this is both hunting and mating season.

·         Always wear a seat belt and remain awake, alert and sober.

(Source: AAA)



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