Subaru Ascent Owner Says, “After Hitting a Deer, We Could Hear Fluids Dripping and Things Popping, I Kicked the Stuck Door and Escaped Before It Was Fully Engulfed In Flames”

Have you ever hit a deer on a deserted road at night?

I came across this incredible story after searching the Subaru owner's story pages. It happened to Andelyn and her husband while they were traveling on a dark Montana highway to a holiday party.

Imagine driving your 2022 Subaru Ascent, which you've been told is safe, and hitting a deer so hard that it damages the front of the car so severely that you can hear fluids dripping and things popping. 

You must get out quickly. Now, you smell smoke and begin to see a glow under the hood. Then you realize the car is about to explode. 

Here is Andelyn's harrowing story. 

She says, "Truly love at first sight when we came across a 2022 Black Subaru Ascent when looking for vehicles in 2023. After owning a Ford Edge as a starter family vehicle, we knew we were growing and would need something different." 

We knew we wanted something reliable, larger, and nice, and it looked like it was in our price range for a new vehicle. We did some research and narrowed ourselves down to an Ascent because of the features and wants available in our area for used vehicles. 

The perfect one came on the market the next town over, and we were on it! It had perfect miles for a used vehicle, lots of room for our growing family and gear, and a price that we could afford, which is essential today. We were off and on the road! 

We traveled to many concerts across Montana for a good portion of two years. Making memories and always feeling safe on the road when we traveled. I am so thankful for the amazing reliability that Subaru has had for the safety features. 

Things Changed on Friday the 13th

On the evening of December 13th, a Friday the 13th as well. My husband and I were traveling for a work holiday party and a hobby game when we came across a deer that wanted to play a game of Dare Me on the road. We unfortunately struck the deer as it crossed a diagonal in front of us. 

We were totally safe inside the car as we saw the fluff of the deer poof all over in the air! We got our car to the side of the road and noticed it was starting to glow up toward the battery of the vehicle and the sound of fire making its presence. 

My husband got out to assess the situation and call 911. I pushed and kicked the stuck door to get myself out. Then, I ran to the other side of the vehicle to start removing things from the car we had brought with us for the weekend. The slow smolder started to increase, and the fire was more present in the front end of our vehicle. We could hear fluids dripping and things popping. 

We dragged items away several times to get everything out of our car before the whole thing was on fire. A vehicle came on us shortly after the fire started getting big, and they stayed with us to help shield us from any explosion that could have happened. 

We ran back up to the car to drag our things back further as the heat from the fire quickly increased and melted items to avoid the smoke smell. Within 20 minutes, our car was fully engulfed in fire, and we were very concerned about it possibly exploding. 

They Walked Away Without a Scratch

The local Fire Department for the Stanford, Montana, area showed up and had us out within half an hour. The frame of our vehicle was finally fully visible. It was one of the most terrifying situations I've ever been in, but to walk away without a scratch or injury, feeling the overwhelming relief and gratitude, is so huge! 

Being from Montana, we knew deer were out there, so we chose a route we hoped to avoid them. Some cars need repair after a deer, but they don't usually become fully engulfed in flames! It was incredible to walk away totally safe from the accident! 

They Wanted to Purchase Another Subaru 

We searched for a vehicle that would compare to the Ascent, which meant so much to us. After a month-long battle with insurance, three weeks of research, and regret over not having New Car Replacement Insurance, the right Subaru found us! 

We test-drove a 2018 Outback with more miles than we wanted to get the feel of it and fell in love with it, saying, "This is like a Baby Ascent!" just this one wasn't quite right. The salesman informed us that two others would be coming in the following week, one that was 2019 with more miles than we would like, in an appealing color and style, but unfortunately, out of our price range. 

Then the words next had our hearts a flutter! 

A 2016 Outback with 63,000 miles was also going to be in and where we could afford it as well. We said to call us as soon as it was in, and we were then added to the list of others interested. We left to have lunch, shop for a bit, and discuss options for other vehicles like that. 

Then my husband's phone started blowing up, it was the salesman about the car we were interested in, IT WAS THERE! We raced over to test drive it immediately, and it was perfect for what we need now! We are now the proud owners of our second Subaru! 

We cannot wait to return to adventuring and taking our family on the road in a vehicle that will keep us safe, and we will be able to make memories for a long time, potentially passing them on to our oldest daughter. 

Final Thoughts and Questions For Subaru Owners

Subaru vehicles are not just cars; they are among the safest companions on the road. The Japanese automaker is known for its stellar safety record. For more information, check out my report here.

Andelyn concludes, "Thank you, Subaru, for keeping us safe that night we hit that deer! We were so safe inside that vehicle!"

It's Your Turn

Have you ever hit a deer or Elk in your Subaru? Tell us about your experience. If so, click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know.

Check out my Subaru story titled; I Was Excited, My Grandparents Gifted Me a 2024 Subaru Outback - As I Lay On My Side After a Huge Crash, I Screamed Because of My Anguish For Losing My Car I Loved So Much

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news and providing expert analysis on Subaru, which you'll find here, ensuring that you, as a reader, are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Denis Flierl