A deer made a smashing entrance into a moving bus in Rhode Island.
The bus was traveling down a street in Warwick when just after 3 a.m. on June 10, a deer ran from Sachem Avenue and jumped straight into the windshield, according to Live 5 News.
The Rhode Island Public Transportation Authority (RIPTA) released surveillance footage from the bus showing the deer becoming airborne before falling almost entirely on a passenger.
There were six passengers on the bus at the time, three of whom required medical attention.
The deer suffered a massive head wound and was alive after the collision, but died shortly after the accident.
A deer jumped into the windshield of a moving bus driving down a street in Warwick, Rhode Island, on June 10, just after 3 p.m.
The Rhode Island Public Transportation Authority (RIPTA) released surveillance footage from the bus that showed the deer falling almost entirely on a passenger.
The deer had run off the road at high speed before jumping into the window.
It startled a passenger, who immediately started kicking the deer away and stood on a bus seat.
Nearly all other bus passengers left their seats and walked away from the aisle.
The deer fell on its side and onto more broken glass, but the animal appeared unable to get back up and succumbed to its injuries while still in the van.
Two of the passengers who suffered injuries from the glass were taken to hospital, while the third was driven to a hospital for treatment.
Following his death, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) officials removed the deer’s body.
After RIPTA released the footage of the accident, interim CEO Christopher Durand issued a statement to the media.
The deer suffered a major head wound and it startled a passenger, who immediately began kicking the deer away and standing on a bus seat
The deer fell onto its side and onto more broken glass, but the animal appeared unable to get up and succumbed to its injuries while still on the bus.
“I want to commend our RIPTA bus driver, Leocadio Hernandez, for his exemplary response to this unique situation,” Durand said.
‘His exceptional alertness and calmness under pressure ensured the safety of all passengers. This incident highlights the dedication and professionalism of our drivers in maintaining the highest standards of safety and care for our community.”
This crash occurred less than a year after AAA Northeast reported that Rhode Island is experiencing an increase in car accidents involving deer.
“Deer accidents can happen quickly and in unexpected locations,” Mark Schieldrop, senior spokesperson for AAA Northeast, told me. The Providence Journal.
“Drivers need to be particularly vigilant at this time of year.”
The DEM advised anyone who touches a deer to use caution when approaching the animal.
If an animal is startled, it can potentially injure anyone who appears to threaten its well-being.