Yachats Oregon Writer Rick Schultze

Crystal and I headed to Newport the other morning to drop her car off for some work to be done on it and were returning to Yachats to have a leisurely breakfast at the Adobe when an amazing event occurred. We were in my car just south of Newport in South Beach across from the entrance to Oregon Coast Community College when out of the brush a deer suddenly bolted towards me and before I could do anything it bounced off of the right front fender, knocking out the headlight, skidded across the hood and smashed into my windshield. The force of the collision propelled the deer across the highway and left us stunned but unharmed thanks to the safety glass windshield which was bent severely inward. A phone call to 911 gave us the instructions to stay put which we did for a minute or two then I checked the traffic and crossed back over the highway to where the deer lay unconscious just out of the traffic flow. Suddenly the deer appeared to wake up but couldn’t move so two truck drivers who had stopped pulled it off the road onto the soft sand shoulder. About that time two Newport Police officers arrived with lights flashing and the action continued in front of the morning traffic which was slowing down to look before speeding up again and continuing on. The first officer directed me to drive forward to the entrance of the College and pull off the road. He followed me and began to fill out an accident report and took pictures of the damage and statements from both of us. He also took my insurance information and checked my drivers’ license and registration. At this point he also informed us that the deer had been dispatched and was bound for the Wolf Sanctuary where it would become food for the Wolves. In accordance with Oregon Vehicle laws I was informed that since there was over $1500 in damage I had to go to DMV to fill out an accident report. Crystal and I were basically reeling in shock and amazement at the situation and how fast it had happened and were filled with sadness for killing the young deer. However both Police officers were a tremendous help and one of them followed me to Power Collision Center where we began the process of calling my insurance company, arranging for a rental car, and filling out forms. Shortly Enterprise Car Rental had a car for us and within a few minutes we were off to DMV to fill out the accident report. Believe it on not all of this occurred in less than two hours and even though we never made it to the leisurely breakfast we did manage to have a solemn but good lunch and a chance to reflect on the fact we hadn’t been hurt which we easily could have been given the circumstances. Bottom line; never take anything for granted, life can change in a blink of an eye. To reach Rick Schultze: email yarick@pioneer.net