Damage to Matt Tingley's SUV from a collision with a Moose in Michigan's U.P.
JENISON, Mich. (WZZM) -- Deer are on the move in Michigan and present a potential hazard on the highways.
But, as damaging and potentially dangerous as hitting a deer can be, they aren't the biggest or scariest creature drivers have to worry about.
During a recent trip to the Upper Peninsula Matthew Tingley of Jenison had a high speed collision with a moose.
"It was dark, can't even see the hand in front of your face and he came out of nowhere," recalls Tingley. "The impact was tremendous. The antler went through the windshield probably about 10 inches above the head of my brother-in- law sitting next to me. What if we were a second later or second earlier, what could have happened? It was a scary situation I'll never forget."
Matthew Tingley's big Chevy Suburban SUV was totaled by the crash into the moose.
The meat from the animal was donated to a food bank.
Moose are not a highway hazard in lower Michigan and there aren't very many of them in the UP.
The Department of Natural Resources estimates there were only 433 of the animals when they did a census last year.
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