Last month, Michele Genzano (sophomore-education) was riding down the Pennsylvania Turnpike in her Toyota Paseo, with her boyfriend, who was driving her and two friends on their way to a canning trip for Interfraternity Council/ Panhellenic Dance Marathon.
Her small car was in the right lane when the car in front swerved out of her lane. Standing in front of the car was a deer -- frozen in headlights. Immediately, her vehicle hit the deer and the animal landed on the hood, blowing out the windshield, she said.
The car pulled over and the passengers got out, unharmed.
When the Pennsylvania State Police arrived, they said that the passengers were very lucky because two fatal deer-vehicular accidents had already occurred that past week.
Genzano's vehicle was towed and she said that it cost her $300 to replace the windshield. However, she still has not been able to fix the hood of the car because she said it is too expensive.
This particular season, deer are increasingly finding their way out onto the road, resulting in a higher number of vehicular accidents.
According to the Erie Insurance Web site, the peak periods when deer are most likely to run into roadways is October, November and December, which is their mating season.
Gary San Julian, professor of wildlife resources, said that roughly 45,000 deer are probably hit each year. He explained that reasons why this happens is the fact that it is rut season, the time of year when bucks and doe mate, thereby moving around and not cognizant of crossing the street.
To avoid hitting a deer, San Julian advised to be careful, watch your speed, especially at twilight, in the dark, and the morning and drive with high beams. "You also have to watch out for areas where deer have been seen before," San Julian said.
The Erie Insurance Web site advises that if a car does hit a deer, for the passengers to report the accident to the local authorities as soon as possible and to contact their insurance company. They advised not move the dead animal, because if it is not actually dead, it could retaliate.
