Megan Stone told KTUU that her daughter, Autumn, was driving home on Monday, Oct. 26, when the animal moved into the road near the Raspberry exit. Stone said she believes Autumn had no opportunity to brake before the collision.

Stock image of a moose in Anchorage, Alaska
Moose seen in Anchorage, Alaska (stock image)Credit: Hasan Akba/Anadolu via Getty

Firefighters responding to the crash found the vehicle badly damaged, KTUU reported. Multiple crews worked to free Autumn from the car.

As of Wednesday, Oct. 28, Autumn remained in the ICU with brain bruising, lacerations and a broken hand, Stone said. Her mother described photographs of the wreck as “horrifying” but said they also underscored how close the family came to losing her.

“But I’m also grateful, because I can put into context just how close we were to losing her,” Stone told KTUU.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game says Alaska has the world’s highest rate of moose-vehicle collisions. Fish and Game biologist Cory Stantorf told KTUU that the Anchorage area typically records about 100 such crashes a year, with winter often bringing the highest number of incidents.

Stantorf said seasonal animal movement, dark commutes and limited visibility can make moose harder for drivers to spot. “Not only do we have moose moving because of the rut, following cows, we are also doing that morning commute in the pitch-black, kids are going to school in the pitch-black, and there’s not a lot of contrast without snow to illuminate these moose,” he said.

Officials advise motorists in areas with large moose populations to reduce speed in rain, snow or fog, watch road shoulders for animals and allow sufficient space between vehicles. They also note that a female moose may have calves nearby.

Anchorage firefighter Jason Dolph told KTUU that highway collisions can be particularly hazardous because an animal can land on the front and upper parts of a moving vehicle. In this crash, he said, the moose landed on the hood and around the windshield and roof. “We see forces of 30 to 40,000 pounds being put onto that car,” Dolph said.

Stone said emergency medical workers and doctors have repeatedly told the family that Autumn was fortunate to survive. “That’s what we’ve been hearing this entire ordeal, from the EMTs to the doctors,” she told KTUU. “They are amazed that she’s alive.”

Source: People