72 vs deer (who won?)

[rambler]

well it happened last night,, driving my 72 back home (granted its not the prettiest truck, but runs great) from working at my Dad's place (3 hour drive each way) I noticed several deer dead on the side of the road,, should have know then that something was up,, well 2 hours later,, 30 mins from home.. going 70 MPH on the interstate,, it happened.. flash,, saw in my headlights a doe,, right on the meadian,, then BAM..... It jumps right at me,, couldnt swerve or anthing.. who won? well I got over the side of the road,, my grill is gone.. raditor (whats left of it) is in the engine.. bumper shot,, hood bent... and who knows what else... ... had to get towed home.... the deer.... it disentragrated on impact... (kinda gross),, the head was ripped off,, and body parts everywhere.. I called the county sheriff, and he blocked the road,, as we scrapped deer off the highway.... he said it looks like a semi hit it.... I'll try to get pics later today,, at work now.. but at least no one was hurt.. except my truck,, guess I'll have to get to Randy and get some parts.... what a great weekend...

[ChrisK10]

Damn dude, that really sucks. Glad you're okay!

[silvertonguedevil]

Man, that's a tough break. Glad no one was hurt (aside from Bambi's mom).

['68OrangeSunshine]

I hit a deer in my '67 K/10 Sub back in '94. I was coming back from a location in Douglas AZ (on the border) working as a grip on a sky-diving pic called "Terminal Velocity." It was Saturday night, Sunday was our only day off. I was hurrying back home to Tucson so I could do my laundry and sleep in my own bed. That Sub had a 454, the PO had put in. It originally had a 283. Aside from swapping to a TH350 from an SM420, he made no further mods -- like suspension or brake upgrades. It was hill country -- just south of Tombstone, winding 2 lane blacktop, about 10 pm, and I was doing 80. I was feeling great as the double French roast coffee from a break in Bisbee was just kicking in. I have the road all to myself. As I crested one hill and went zooming down the other side I saw him. A big buck. What a rack! Four points (Western-style -- or 8 Eastern) He was standing in the northbound lane. I hit the horn. It only pissed him off. I hit the brakes. What brakes?! Drum brakes and they were overburdened, I tried shifting down. The stupid automatic just shifted back up again -- no lock up. Road was too narrow for any evasive manuevers. "We're going in!" was my next thought. Bucko decides he can escape thru the open tunnel he thinks is in my drivers side headlight beam. And headbutts my headlight. Crumple, smash, Thump-thump. I finally stop. My left head light is nothing but a connector and bulb, the rest of the sealed beam is fragments, my grille is smashed. Th headlight's bare filament is shorting to the frame. It started again and got me home to Tucson, but would'nt start the next morning, I had to take the stepside to get to my next job, a western called "The Quick and the Dead."
Damage report: Headlamp, headlight bezel, front grille, radiator, distributer, battery, regulater and alternator (from the short), big ding in front bumper. I was lucky he was trying to go low. Hood and fenders were OK. About 2 years later I was getting the 454 steam cleaned, when we discovered some hissing water/coolant coming out of one of the side freeze plugs on the bigblock. The mechanic extracted it and installed an expansion plug. There was still a piece of antler shard in the freeze plug and the high pressure steam had dislodged it.
I guess I'm damn lucky to be alive.

[skokie]

Been there and did that in a 1986 F**D Ranger. I just nicked the doe and that was $1200 damage to the truck. What was scary was that about 50 feet up the road was her Hubby and he didnt look to happy. Glad you are ok.

[toms68cst]

Glad you are OK. Sorry about your truck.

Given all the bad luck with board members wrecking their trucks recently I'm afraid to drive my own!

Were you insured for that kind of loss?

[silvertonguedevil]

It does kinda seem like there's been a rash of this stuff lately huh?

[Blue Beard]

Now we know who got Bambi.....

[rambler]

I'll get pics when I get back,, I cannot even open the hood, as the grill and supports are twisted... The deputy said it looked like a semi hit that deer, the damage done to it... at least its tough enough to stand up to the deer..... I doubt a newer car would fair so well.

[juju808]

so sorry to hear about the truck... glad you are ok... but having grown up in michigan i have hit several deer, and it never is so bad as when you have to get a tow truck home and think about it!!! sorry!

[Bowtie67]

Sorry to hear about the truck, I had just bought a 76 elcamino (not even a week & no insurance) in 1980 and was on my way from Ohio to Colorado and hit a horse in Kearney, Nebraska broadside, totaled the elcamino and ended hitchhiking into Denver. Thank god I had a friend there..

[lukecp]

Sorry to hear about that Rambler, i hope your '72 is salavagebale

About two weeks ago i came very close to doing the same thing in my '72. I was going about 75 down a 2-lane letter route in the middle of nowhere near my house, coming back from the swimming hole with a buddy of mine, and for some reason i decided to slow down to about 65. As i was coasting a huge doe jumped up out of the fenceline alongside the road right into my path. I slammed on the brakes, and watched the deers hind leg smack into my truck. I was going maybe 45 when i hit it. Scared the crap out of me, but the deer ran off, and it only left a few little dimples in my outer grille. I felt pretty lucky, had i been there half a second earlier i would have trashed my truck, but thank the Lord i didn't!

Anyway, hopefully all it needs is a few body parts and a radiator and you will be back on the road

[stea]

Happened to my friend last week. He was traveling 65 mph on his way to work and a doe jumped just as he got to her. Said he never even seen it. It never even touched the hood and went through the windshied. He has surgery scheduled for today (second time). He had the bones around his right eye broke up pretty bad, he has also lost the sight in that eye. Somehow he was able to pull over without hitting anybody. At that time of the day its a very busy road.

[68C15]

sucks to hear about things like this. sorry to hear about your friend stea. hope he turns out ok.
BTW ever hit a cow? a friend of mine did with a 74 Honda civic @ 60 MPH. NOT GOOD

[Big J]

I had a couple freinds hit a deer with a crotch rocket. Cut the deer in half, talk about gross. They were O.K. but the bike was toast. Good luck gettin' your truck fixed.