A Modesto man who thought he had struck a deer was hit by a deer himself as he checked the exterior of his car for damage. Robert Brooks, 50, was driving along Blackhawk Road near Mount Diablo State Park on Tuesday evening when a deer leaped in front of him so suddenly he wasn't sure if he had struck it, said Officer Steve Creel of the California Highway Patrol.
Brooks pulled his car to the side of the road, got out, and was examining the front end when another vehicle approached from the opposite direction.
Just then, another deer -- or perhaps the same one Brooks saw -- jumped into the roadway and was struck by the oncoming car.
The impact propelled the animal through the air and into Brooks, who fell to the ground and broke his right ankle.
He was taken to a nearby hospital, and the deer was pronounced dead.
The motorist who hit the deer drove away.
Brooks pulled his car to the side of the road, got out, and was examining the front end when another vehicle approached from the opposite direction.
Just then, another deer -- or perhaps the same one Brooks saw -- jumped into the roadway and was struck by the oncoming car.
The impact propelled the animal through the air and into Brooks, who fell to the ground and broke his right ankle.
He was taken to a nearby hospital, and the deer was pronounced dead.
The motorist who hit the deer drove away.
