Just after dusk, on Hwy 260 east of Payson, AZ, about 5 miles before Heber, AZ, I passed a car with bright headlights. Instantly, as soon as that car went by, a deer was in my lights. I hit the deer at full speed before I could even react and hit the breaks. The air bags deployed and the car (Audi) breaked by itself. Of course it took a second for me to even register that what I was experiencing - which was like a dream. The airbag was in my face and the dust it creates made a fog. I DID hit the breaks but I think the car was doing its own thing and stopped on its own.

Of course, I was dazed, but within 15-20 seconds, Audi was calling my car (a feature I didn’t even know it had) and a human was asking if I was okay. I was. They called for assistance and they even knew where the accident was located. I managed to get out of the car and off the road to safety, but it was still very scary because the cars that were coming were not slowing down and my car was still in the right lane - dead - not even able to get it into neutral to push if off the road. It took a few minutes for other people to stop and assist - and get flashing lights going as a warning to keep everyone standing by helping and other drivers safe.

I won’t go into the rest of the story but suffice it to say, I’m very fortunate. The car will be in AZ for a while - assessing damage - repairs etc. Diane and her husband (Bernina dealers in Phoenix) drove 2.5 hours to collect me and take me back to Phoenix. We arrived about 2AM. I have a flight this morning out of Phoenix and will still make my lectures in Canon City, Colorado on Sunday evening and Monday.

Kidney stone, dead deer, destroyed new car (which was brand new early February) - what a memorable trip this is turning out to be! Feeling Thankful. It could have been so much worse.