...And you shall henceforth be known as
"Dances With Deer"

On Thursday, April 24, 2008, a group of us were riding South on Hwy 674 between Rock Springs, TX and Bracketville, TX. We were about 30 miles North of Bracketville and riding as a group about 55 MPH. It was about 2:30PM and I was located in the middle of the group. There wasn't many new or used cars on the road at the time.

Out of the tree line to my right sprang a deer that ran into the road and started running parallel with my bike. Startled, I ducked my head and quickly accelerated hoping to make the deer pass to the other side of the road behind me instead of in front.

According to Chuck "txcwdancer" Burt (riding directly behind me) and John "coon" Cunningham (riding behind Burt), the deer then JUMPED over me. I couldn't see, due to being ducked down. As the deer jumped in the air over me, it twisted its' body with its' rear legs going one way and its' front legs going the opposite direction. While the deer twisted one of its' hoofs scratched the top of my helmet.

The deer tracked over me and landed on the other side of the road where it landed on the pavement and slid off into the gravel and dirt. I was told that it didn't get up and flee. It must have broken it's back during the jump. I was looking in my rear view mirror hoping that txcwdancer wasn't going to get hit, not knowing that it flew over me. All I could see was a cloud of dirt when the deer hit the other side.

Being versed in EMS procedures, txcwdancer and coon thought that they were going to have to help me. They thought I'd been hit, but once they saw that I was still upright and riding along OK, they were relieved.

Needless to say, when we stopped on the side of the road about a mile or two down, everyone let me know what happened. I feel lucky to go through that without a scrape (well, except for my helmet). That deer could have landed on top of me and broken every bone in my body, I might be in an electric wheelchair right now.

As far as I know, there are no photographs or video of the incident. Txcwdancer was busy photographing the whole trip, but didn't have any of his gear running at the time.

I'm thankful to be alive and breathing.

John "Coon" Cunningham's account of the incident:

I was the second bike in line behind Trip when the deer decided to use him for a vaulting standard. From where I was, it looked as if the deer made solid contact with Trip. Txcwdancer was right in front of me and right behind Trip and we were readying ourselves to help Trip. Both of us having EMS training and knowing for a fact that Trip was going down. For some unknown reason Trip blew on through what looked like full contact and the deer twisted on to the left side of the roadway. I do believe the deer broke his back because when he hit the pavement his rear half was pointed skyward and his chest and front half was on the ground.

All of this happened in a split second and nothing could have been done to prevent it. It's a site I will never forget. I'm glad it turned out like it did. It could have been worse, a lot worse.

We resumed with no delay looking closely for more deer. And at the next stop found what we think may be the scuff mark that closely resembles the hoof of the deer precisely on the top of Trips helmet. Txcwdancer has pictures of his helmet to confirm.

Feel free to email Trip at any of the following email addresses:

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