LUCKY ESCAPE: Toolangi mechanic Cameron Biggs with the damage done to his arm and his much loved car, Monza, after a collision with a large stag on Myers Creek Road.By DION TEASDALE
A TOOLANGI mechanic has cheated death and his much loved car has been written off after a headon collision with a deer.
One of the deer’s antlers impaled the driver’s arm in the accident, threatening to end his chances of playing in upcoming finals with the Healesville Football Club.
Cameron Biggs, 21, of Chum Creek Road, Toolangi, was returning to his family’s home when the accident occurred on Myers Creek Road shortly after 7.30pm on Friday, 19 August.
Mr Biggs said the deer, a large Samber stag with 50 centimetre long antlers, stepped out in front of his vehicle, a red 1984 XF Ford Falcon affectionately known as Monza.
“I was on my way home from work, it was pouring down with rain and the road was covered with fog,” he said.
“The deer jumped out of the trees and was trotting across the road 15 metres in front of me when it came into my headlights.”
Mr Biggs, who was driving at 85kmh in the 100kmh speed zone, said the collision happened in a flash and his natural reaction was to slam on his brakes.
“The deer went up onto the bonnet of the car, flung its head around to the right and its antlers smashed through the driver’s door and window and impaled my arm,” he said.
“I knew I was going to hit it and that it would smash the front of the car, but I didn’t expect it to come around the side and stab me.”
Mr Biggs sustained a two centimetre deep gash in his right arm just above his elbow which required 16 stitches and the wound became infected by toxins from the antler within 48 hours of the accident.
He said his arm swelled to twice its usual size, that he had to have antibiotics administered through intravenous drip and had to have a week off work.
The deer was found the following morning 20 metres from the crash site.
“I know I’m pretty fortunate. It could have been much worse. If I was going any faster the stag could have gone through my windscreen and could have struck me in the neck or chest,” he said.
Mr Biggs, who is completing his mechanics apprenticeship at the Mobil service station in Healesville, said he wasn’t surprised the accident occurred.
“I drive home at night all the time and always see animals on the road. I had been thinking it was only a matter of time before I had an accident,” he said.
He said his father, Geoff Biggs, had a collision with a deer six years ago just 200 metres from the site of his own accident.
Mr Biggs cautioned drivers to be wary of animals on local roads and said keeping a level head could mean the difference between life and death.
“People should be prepared to come across animals on the roads in this part of the world,” he said.
“My advice is don’t freak out, don’t go swerving across the road, because you’ll end up in the trees, or down a cliff and in much worse condition than me.”
Mr Biggs, who plays with the Healesville Football Club’s senior team, said the most disappointing aspect of the accident was that his injuries have jeopardised his chances of playing in upcoming finals matches.
“Healesville is currently in second place on the ladder and it’s questionable if I will be able to play for the rest of the season,” he said.
“It is my first full season with the seniors and I was looking forward to helping the team contest the flag, but I’m not sure if that is possible now.”
