Tuesday, July 29, 2008

I almost just got into a serious accident.

I was planning a way different type of post for my big ~500th post~, but instead I will give you the story of the accident that almost just happened.

I was just driving down the freeway, doing 79 (speeding. I had ~just~ freaking looked at how fast I was going). No cars in front of me and three cars way behind me. Right hand on the wheel. Left hand on my iPod. (yeah, terrible way to drive).

My subconscious picks up on "what the fuck is that?" but before it enters my conscious mind:
DEER. RIGHT. THE. FUCK. IN. FRONT. OF. ME.

I swear I didn't have time to even formulate that though of "what is that?" when I see my main beams lock on the deer. Hind legs on the center lines of the lane, entire body in front of me. I have little room to maneuver - only the rest of my lane and the right shoulder. No more room, for there is a concrete wall on the other side of the shoulder.

I swerve with my right hand. I miss the deer, God only knows how, and I try to swerve back into my lane before spinning out and hitting the wall. I feel the car jerk unnaturally back into my lane and there I am, driving as if nothing just had happened.

I think my car had the most to do with me being safe right now. My car has some kind of traction control which is supposed to help when swerving like that - it helps protect against over correcting turns so it gets you back straight before you spin out. That's what I felt - my car taking over and making me safe.

I ~puffy heart~ my car.

I'm so glad I didn't hit a deer. It's a big fear of mine, living in Colorado. But damn, I had only a second to figure out what to do. No wonder so many people hit them. Still makes me feel bad though. (I'm a sucker for all animals.) And I'm so glad I didn't total my car. And I'm so glad I'm okay (the baby too).

Wow. That was seriously crazy. I've never came so fucking close to hitting something. That wasn't simply a near miss. That was a miracle miss. I can't believe it.

Goodnight deer. I hope you made it home tonight. I'm sorry we are building all over what was once your home. I'm so sorry.

30 comments:

Scarlet O'Kara said...

What a scary experience...but glad that everyone is safe.

Amy said...

Wow that's scary! I live in So. Cal. so I do a lot of freeway driving. A few years ago a car pulled out in front of me, I was driving WAY too fast, so I had to swerve. I lost control of my car and did a complete 360 on the freeway across all 4 lanes. I came to a screeching halt right before I the center divider. I didn't hit a thing. It was an absolute miracle.

jenn said...

Oh god! How scary! I grew up in deer country too- I was lucky & never hit one, one did total my dad's car though. He was only going 25 around a turn.
So so so glad you & baby are okay!

Soapchick said...

Holy smokes, how scary. Glad you didn't hit the deer and you are okay Nancy!

heavenlytini said...

Thank God you didn't hit him!!! i heart your car also.
i hit a deer before but amazingly no damage it was like a little scratch and i couldn't remember if it was there before i hit the deer. deer was ok fell down and as i drove away he got up and walked away or limped. lol

Oh yeah i nominated you for the Pink Rose Award check my blog for details!

Debz said...

Wow! Thankfully your (and the bambino and the car) ok. Cause boy can an accident screw up a perfectly good day.

IdleMindOfBeth said...

Thank God you're ok!

I can totally relate on how terrifying a near miss with a deer can be. I've had more of them than I can count!

Io said...

Whew! Glad you're ok - nothing like a deer in the road to scare the shit out of you. I almost hit one once, but the guy in the next lane did. His sports car and the deer both got f-ed up.

Shea said...

Deer, bears, fox, mountain lions? What's next?

I'm so glad you're okay and there wasn't an accident. We saw a deer that was hit in the middle of town recently and it was still alive with the policeman standing over it. It's sad to think about what had to happen to it.

Sarah said...

(((Hugs))) How scary, Nancy! I hate that feeling of having your heart come up into your throat and then pound away after a scare like that.

I am SO glad you got mad skillz and were able to avoid hitting the deer.

And LOL about your apology to the deer. I always think like that too. It's not THEIR fault that we have taken over nature and now they have highways instead of meadows!

Yay on 500 posts! Keep 'em comin, girlie! :D

VHMPrincess said...

glad u and the little one are ok!

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad you're safe! My aunt and uncle live in Glenwood Springs and my uncle hit an ELK last fall on his way home from Aspen. Thankfully no one was in the passenger seat because the antlers came through the windshield and basically speared the passenger seat. I'm always on hyper alert for the dear, but like you said I know if I see one at night it will almost certainly be too late anyway.

Anonymous said...

So glad you are okay! what a scary experience.

I have traction control on my vehicle (minivan) and I *puffy heart* it as well. It's saved me from an accident more than once.

--Kristin

Chastity said...

That is scary! I would have freaked out...so glad you and baby boy are OK!!

Confessions of a momaholic said...

YIKES! glad all is well, that could've been bad for all 3 of you. (you, baby, deer)

btw...as for your request for questions. what came first the chicken or the egg?

Just kidding!

Lori Lavender Luz said...

Wow. I'm so glad everyone (including the deer) is OK.

I HOPE the deer is OK.

Kaci said...

Whew. Glad you're ok. Scary shit those deer. I love that you apologized to him.

Amber said...

Glad that you alright! Living out in bum fuck I know all to well about the deer!

Shinejil said...

I'm so glad all ended well for you and the deer.

Anonymous said...

Wow - that's scary! I always say "I'm sorry" to any wildlife I see. I feel guilty for overtaking their homes, too. :(

~Chel~ said...

Oh wow!!! I'm so glad you and baby are ok!!!

Mommyof2boys said...

I'm so glad you and baby are OK !!

I know we live in some areas where deer like to hang out on the road.So when we travel at night I'm always so scared I will hit one.

((HUGS))

g said...

So glad you and the lil one are ok!! i know that feeling living in deer country growing up and now! its nuts... i am so happy u missed it and your car took control.. PHEW... still scarey though... (((BIG HUGS)))

Elana Kahn said...

Holy cow!! I'm sooo glad you and the baby are ok!!

Not in the Water said...

Wow that's scary. I was happy to here you were all (deer included) ok.

My DH saw a puppy running on Rt 80 (that highway that goes from NY to Cali.) the other day and he couldn't get to it. It was alive when he saw it and I like to think it still is.

Gotta <3 your car!

Lee said...

How scary!

Glad everyone's OK.

Catie said...

Very scary! I hit one a few years back and now I have panic attacks when I see animals in/near the road, even when I'm not driving.

Anonymous said...

wow, that must have been scary to go through. I actually went through something similar right before I was scheduled to start nursing school. I was merging onto the highway and was halfway in the lane when this truck comes over (no turn signal on of course) from the left lane. JERK! Well, I swerved to avoid hitting him, but ended up spinning out of control. Mind you, this was during rush hour on a busy highway. I have NO clue how, but not a single car hit me. I think I had an angel watching over me that day. I quickly exited off the highway and began crying. It was even worse because I had my then 4-year old son in the car with me. And I just kept thinking what could have happened had we gotten into an accident. I was terrified to drive on the highway after that. But I'm glad you and baby are both safe. You've got such a cute growing belly by the way.

Anonymous said...

I'm glad you're OK. That had to be terrifying!!

Anonymous said...

I'm glad you're OK. That had to be terrifying!!