Solstice Vs Deer Collision Pictures

[SeeStuRun]

So I'm not a frequent poster here, but I've been around for awhile for the wealth of information. While I haven't enjoyed the images over the years of our cars in accidents, I do appreciate seeing the real world images and stories of how our cars have held up in collisions, and unfortunately I'm here to add to that collection today, albeit with a smile and appreciation for our roadsters I wouldn't have otherwise had.

My wife and I were traveling through the mountains in VT at about 9:30 this morning for an after wedding brunch. My wife is actually amazingly good at spotting deer on roadsides, which is a good skill around here because they are everywhere. She didn't see this one as it was standing in tall roadside grass and we didn't see it until it jumped into the road about 20'-25' in front the solstice going 50mph.

At this point it was over as on the right side of the road was the beginning of the guardrail (we were on the outside of a modest corner) and in the left lane was another vehicle. All we could do was lock up the brakes. The deer hit slightly right of center on the car




The front of the deer crumpled the headlight and right fender portion of the car




Came up onto the windshield and over the car





We had the top down when this happened! It passed mere inches over our heads and landed behind the car, never touching the trunk or anything past the windshield. I'd estimate at the time we hit the deer our speed was about 40mph as we left a 25' patch of rubber. My wife and I are both 100% fine and the airbags never deployed which I thought was odd at first, but the more I think about it, most of the body weight of the deer was transferred to the hood and over the front impact sensors. The officer that arrived to put the deer down talked to us for few minutes afterwards and when he realized that we had the top down and that the deer went over the top of the car, his jaw dropped and just said "Geez, I would've sh*t my pants if I were you!" and chuckled. He was a pretty good guy.

All in all the only thing I'm really upset about is the driver of the vehicle on other side of the road that passed us while this happened, and kept right on going down the road. No way he didn't see what happened. Deer do what instincts tell them to do and that won't change, but this guy should've stopped to make sure no one was injured!

The car is banged up bad, but I believe it's mostly cosmetic. I will definitely need a new hood, headlight, windshield, and possibly wheel well liner (hood is pushed into it). The hood also scraped a little paint on the drivers side door as it was twisted into it. I can't get in the engine bay as the hood won't open, but judging by the amount of impact I think things should be fine in there. Front bumper is questionable as I think it's just the hood pushing into it making it look off. The part I'm actually worried about most is in picture #2, where the windshield frame is slightly dented. It's small but I'm worried this may be a tough one if it has any impact on the integrity of the windshield sealing. Thankfully insurance should take care of it.

In the end, I'm thankful for this car, because we didn't end up like the deer. It's sad but things are replaceable and this fun and sporty car kept us safe when it mattered, so I say thank you Solstice!

[ChrisBlair]

Car held up well, and I'm glad you weren't hurt. The Sols are built like little tanks as far as I can see...I complain about the weight but they seem to be quite sturdy

[King-Oka]

If you were in a Miata, Porsche or others, you would have been sitting more upright, and may have banged your head into the deer. that\s one thing I really appreciate about our cars - the windscreen finishes above the top of my head.

[Coupe 112]

Wow - so glad you and your wife are OK. A friend of mine hit a pretty big buck at about the same speed in a Saturn SC-2, and it didn't quite make it over the car. Monique was as lucky as y'all in that the deer flipped past her, but not completely over the car and impaled its rack into the roof just behind her head. She was OK, but her car was totaled, and she loved that car. Your baby will back on the road - hopefully soon.

[SeeStuRun]

Coupe 112, THAT is a crazy story, very lucky for your friend.

I'm about 6' 1" so I come close to the top, wind just tickles my hair, but yes, in anything lower profile in the windscreen dept. I might have had hoof prints on my forehead.

As an update I just got off the phone with my mother. In telling her what happened her response was first: are you ok? Immediately followed by "did you bring it home?"

She was referencing the deer not the car. It's almost common practice in this neck of the woods to claim a deer for venison if you hit it with your car, local Wardens are OK with the Good Ol' Boys of the area bringing it home long as you let them know you are doing it. Now that would have been an ungamely looking sight for anyone else: a smashed in sports car with a broken windshield and deer tied to to it's 5X 3 trunk

[cmbj]

I'm so glad you are okay. My wife hit a deer last fall in her suv on the way to the dealership to trade it in on a new car. The dealership honored the deal we had struck and even paid our deductable, since they were making money off the bodyshop repair. I had a close call scare the wits out of me during the rut season that convinced me to drive my truck for awhile so I'd have more protection from hitting a deer.

Is it my imagination, or is the windshield surround bent down at the driver's side? Considering what happened, the car held up well. Again, glad you are fine.
cmbj

[GXP Fetish]

I'm glad there were no injuries except to the deer. I've hit two deer in my life time. Totaled a 72 Gran Torino Sport back in 1978. Second hit involved a 2004 Blazer ZR in 2007. There was over $8000 damage to the Blazer but it was repaired.

No people injuries thankfully but neither of the deer lived. Both incidents took place with deer standing on the side of the highway then jumping directly infront of my vehicles. I came terribly close to hitting a deer in my 2007 N/A but I was able to avoid inpact.

Again, I am glad you and your wife are unharmed.

[ihawk95]

Very glad you and your wife are alright and the deer made it over the top of the car!

I hit a fawn a long time ago in my camaro and got very lucky that the nose of the car scooped it up and threw it in the ditch rather than back on top of the car! I'd rather never hit another deer again!

Hope your car is back on the road and keeping you smiling and safe again soon!!

[22GXP23]

Glad your ok. . .like you said the car can be replaced, people cant. What part of Vermont are you in/did this happen? I live in Barre (near Montpelier)and see very few Sols around here.

[Leather]

I am happy for the both of you that your OK! I can't believe the the passing driver never stopped to make sure you were all right! Hope you get it fixed quick so your on the road again!

[Smokescreen]

Glad your both OK. I'll bet that if you would have been going slower that deer would have been in your laps. Our cars seem to be built pretty tuff.

[SeeStuRun]

Thanks for the kind words everyone. From what I have seen on the forum, with a few very notable exceptions, most accidents involving the solstice seem to see the occupants walk away fine.

Smokescreen, you make me think of the movie Tommy Boy when they hit the deer and then throw it in the back of the convertible and it wakes up a few miles down the road and destroys the car. If that thing had ended up on our lap...I have no idea what we would have done!

[SeeStuRun]

Originally Posted by 22GXP23 Glad your ok. . .like you said the car can be replaced, people cant. What part of Vermont are you in/did this happen? I live in Barre (near Montpelier)and see very few Sols around here.

We're in Jeffersonville, but I work in Essex. We end up in Barre a few times during the summer to go to Thunder road. You're right, there is a very small Sol/Sky population in VT. I know of three other Sol's in Essex (Don't know them personally) and 1 I've seen over in the Champlain Islands . There's a red Sol (I think GXP) that I've seen passing through up this way on rte 15 a few times too, any chance that's you?

We were on rte 108 heading towards Smugglers notch to head into Stowe. Usually more focused on watching where those out of state plates will turn for photos than watching for deer, my priorities were wrong

[IBDRINKEN]

glad your ok, I used to live in Rutland back in the late 90's

[jimbo]

Thank God you are unscathed. I don't live in deer country here in the Sacramento valley but I know what they can do.

I rode a motorcycle for years and the 2 trips when I rode back east, deer were constantly on my mind, especially when riding at dawn and at dusk. Night scared me because I knew I couldn't see much and had no clue how deer would react to my headlights.

Man, they are so DUMB. They wait confused forever and then decide to bolt across you right when you are upon them. OK, I guess a lot of animals do that, but a jackrabbit isn't going to do that to your car.

The damage to your car looks just brutal, but that is a far second consideration. You and the Mrs. are OK and that is all that matters.

I hope they can save your car and get it back up and running soon. It did its job. It saved you for another day. I am very impressed with the physical integrity of these little cars. Very tough fellows.

Glad you are OK!