Anchorage Teen Survives Moose Collision That Crunched Her Car
Rescuers used hydraulic tools to extract the 18-year-old driver, who remains in intensive care with a bruised brain and broken hand.
By Beatriz Bailey ·
An 18-year-old driver is in the intensive care unit after her car collided with a moose on an icy road in Anchorage, Alaska, late Monday.
Megan Stone said her daughter, Autumn, was driving home when the animal appeared in the lane. Stone stated she does not believe Autumn had enough time to apply the brakes. Firefighters arrived to find the vehicle severely damaged with the teen trapped inside. Multiple crews used Jaws of Life hydraulic rescue tools to cut her out.
Jason Dolph, an Anchorage firefighter, explained the physical force involved in such collisions. He noted that a moose often becomes suspended in the air upon impact and then lands back onto the vehicle. In this case, the animal landed on the hood, windshield, and roof. Dolph said the impact exerts between 30,000 and 40,000 pounds of force on the car.
Cory Stantorf, a Fish and Game Biologist, reported that the Anchorage area typically sees about 100 moose-vehicle collisions annually. He added that incidents tend to increase during this time of year. Stantorf cited the rutting season, when bulls follow cows, as a factor. He also pointed out that morning commuters and students drive in the dark without the contrast provided by snow to illuminate the animals. He advised drivers to slow down because reaction times are shorter than in summer.
Stone said medical personnel have expressed amazement that Autumn survived. She reported that her daughter has brain bruising, lacerations, and a broken hand. Stone said she has not seen any catastrophic injuries. As of Wednesday, Autumn remained in the ICU, where doctors expected her to stay for several more days.
Stone viewed photographs of the wreckage and expressed relief that her daughter lived. She acknowledged the horror of seeing the damage but emphasized her gratitude for being able to assess how close the family came to losing her.
The crash occurred on a road known for icy conditions, a factor Stone highlighted when describing the scene. The incident adds to the seasonal pattern of wildlife collisions in the region.
Source: WALA-TV
