18-year-old driver survives moose collision on Anchorage road

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 29 Oct, 18:09 · Archive

An 18-year-old driver in Anchorage, Alaska survived a collision with a moose on an icy road and was rescued from her badly damaged vehicle.

An 18-year-old driver in Anchorage, Alaska survived hitting a moose on Monday night while driving home on an icy road. The moose appeared suddenly in the roadway, and the driver had no time to brake. When firefighters arrived, they found her trapped inside a badly damaged vehicle and used Jaws of Life hydraulic rescue tools to cut her out.

Anchorage firefighter Jason Dolph explained why such collisions are so dangerous. When a car strikes a moose at highway speeds, the animal becomes suspended in the air before landing back on the vehicle. In this case, the moose landed on the hood, windshield and roof area, creating forces of 30,000 to 40,000 pounds on the car.

Fish and Game Biologist Cory Stantorf said the Anchorage area typically experiences about 100 moose-vehicle collisions per year, and this season sees an increase. The collisions are more frequent now because moose are moving during the rut while drivers navigate dark morning commutes and school runs with poor visibility.

How it is being reported

• ‘Amazed that she’s alive’: 18-year-old driver in ICU after hitting moose on icy roadA mother in Alaska says she is grateful that her 18-year-old daughter survived hitting a moose Monday night.KNOE · 29 Oct, 17:24
• ‘Amazed that she’s alive’: 18-year-old driver in ICU after hitting moose on icy roadA mother in Alaska says she is grateful that her 18-year-old daughter survived hitting a moose Monday night.WAFB · 29 Oct, 17:24

In this story: Autumn Stone · Megan Stone · Jason Dolph · Cory Stantorf · Anchorage · Alaska

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