Just how thin the "roll-the-dice" line is that can separate between being a deer/bike collision statistic, or not, was (unfortunately) brought home again on a post 4th of July holiday ride on Swanton Road ...... in the Santa Cruz mountains.
The totally unavoidable nature that can be at the core of such collisions, despite the absolute most defensive, safe and skilled level of riding, was also clearly confirmed.
At the time of this deer/bike incident I was riding with a friend that I'd just happened to cross paths with, in a totally unplanned meeting at the Pescadero lunch stop.
After a ride down to the coast, and the trek down Hwy 1, we'd turned off and taken the Swanton Road loop. Just prior to the incident, we'd crossed the top of the hill on Swanton Road, passing by the residences at the standard totally chill one-handed, 20 MPH pace.
After passing those homes, only a few turns down the hill, while leading the way at was still a very chilled (maybe 30 MPH or less?) pace, I suddenly saw a small deer come darting out onto the roadway from the lefthand side, coming up from a steep blind embankment. I saw it early and slowed while observing it's actions and planning for whatever evasive action seemed best.
While dealing with the currently visible obstacle, as much of my focus was devoted to rapidly scanning the scene in anticipating the appearance of another animal showing up close behind, and putting an adjusted plan into action for avoiding collision with that deer.
Immediately after the deer had run to the far right side of the shoulder and into the brush, I reached up and gave a quick warning signal of "DEER AHEAD" to the rider behind me.
Almost the moment I'd put my hand back on the bar, and returned a glance to my rear view mirrors, my stomach was clenched by the sight of a bike and rider being instantly slammed to the ground in a sliding spray of sparks.
I immediately slowed and made a quick U-Turn to return to the crash site. Upon dismounting my bike, the scene showed a dead deer (small, only being about 40 lbs?) lying in the roadway on the left half of the lane, a crashed Ducati lying on its right side, in the right portion of the roadway about 20 feet past, and the rider lying in a fetal position in the right side grass ditch, moaning loudly and reeling in pain.
Thanks to the kind assistance of a local resident that has a house at the top of the hill, we were able to get the bike lifted up, and ultimately ridden up the hill for temporary storage. Together we were able to attend to the injured rider, eventually assisting him in getting to his feet and walking over to a more safe and comfortable sitting position, on the opposite side of the road.
Ultimately due to the pain level, and uncertainty of the injuries (by the rider's decision), the Cal Fire team and paramedic/medical teams were dispatched. As per what's become pretty standard protcol lately, despite the non-life threatening condition, he was ultimately flown out to Stanford for evaluation.
Despite the air flight method of transport (that the medics again decided upon) the good news ended up being that his injuries were liimited to the one item I'd already diagnosed at the scene ....... being a badly broken right collarbone. After only a few hours of total time at the hospital, he ended up riding back home with his Wife in their car, with nothing more than a sling and a prescription for some good pain killers.
Due to the help of the very cool folks at two separate residences near the top of the hill on Swanton Road, the bike and his riding gear were separately kept safe until I returned an hour or so later with my truck to retrieve all. Really good people!!!
I believe the deer that took him out was the same deer that had crossed in front of me. The impact occurring when that same deer, likely out of fear in wanting to return to from where it came and perceived safety of its parent, leaped back into the roadway from right-to-left, at the exact moment my friend's bike had reached that location.
EPILOG:
Having been the human victim of 3 different bike/deer collisions in the past (two with crashes and injuries, and one staying upright), the fact that only a few seconds separated the outcome of my friend being the unfortunate rider to be in the position to be taken out in this case ....... versus me adding a fourth pair of antlers to the tally sheet .... really spotlighted how it's totally roll-of-the-dice luck that often determines whether these things happen to you or not. Much moreso than the impact that even the highest level of defensive riding skills, or most conservative level of riding pace will produce in avoiding being taken out by one of these fur-covered heat-seeking projectiles.
For anyone that thinks "
Oh, that'd never happen to me", because:
1) "I ride at a chill pace all the time"
2) "I'm always very attentive to what's on the road ahead of me"
3) "I have great defensive riding skills"
4) "I never ride at early morning, or late afternoon/evening dusk times"
....... guess again! A deer/bike collision can happen to YOU TOO! This incident happened at 2:30PM, on a warm and sunny afternoon, on a clear day, when riding at a very conservative speed that anyone, on any bike type, would have potentially been doing at the time.
Short of absolutely never riding a motorcycle on any road, highway, or freeway where there's the slightest chance of a deer presence, there is absolutely nothing you can do in your riding to totally prevent the potential roll-of-the-dice going wrong outcome from making you another deer/bike collision statistic.
Keep your eyes open, expect the unexpected, and keep a four-leaf clover in the pockets of your leathers for luck. That's about the best you can do.
(sure I can laugh now, but then it was the grossest thing evah)
