2021 Mach-E GT meets bull elk at 80 MPH... who wins?

[CODOLFN]

Early reservation holder, 2021 Job 2 GTPE.
Longtime forum lurker.

Last Friday while traveling 78 MPH EB on I70 in the Rockies we crashed hard on into a 900 Lb bull elk. 5am, single degree temps and without any advance recognition the animal jumped onto the highway and into the RH lane resulting in a PS impact with no evasive measures possible.

I truly believe that in any other vehicle I have ever driven, my walking away without a scratch could not be imagined. My 5000Lb car came to an immediate stop without veering even an inch in the drive lane, the hood had ripped up and open like a sardine can and the windshield and a number of interior panels burst in to a million pieces. In the total of a couple of seconds (while I had no idea what had occurred) the car stopped itself, protected me and turned on the hazards. The only awareness I had was to exit the vehicle as quickly as possible and head to the ditch, with many vehicles approaching and in the pitch dark. It was then I saw the carcass behind me and put it all together.

I thank the emergency personal on scene for a wonderful job and all those who helped that morning. I was in shock.

I thank my car the most though. I loved that car.
I waited (and waited… and waited) thru Covid for her to be born and loved the journey of logging into this forum in the early days to get any info that the community provided. I thank everyone here from the very bottom of my heart for all their contributions, I appreciated them all. I learned the workings of the rail schedules from Mexico to Kansas City as well as what tow companies worked for Ford in which states. We all just wanted our cars.

As a 2021 Job 2, I went the better part of a year with no OTAs, only to finally get results from a call to the Bev team. (thanks to the forum) I recall being scared for a year of my HVBJB going kaputz, only to be free as a bird once it finally did. Even when considering those factors, plenty of bluetooth and PAK issues, a tempermental wireless CarPlay(to say the least) and a number of others phantom (maybe) faults… I still loved this car. The original purchase was a little above my tax bracket but the fed tax credit and the Ford options program with a low rate were attractive to me at the time. My 3 year options had expired just 5 weeks ago and there was no other decision for me but to keep it. A soft resale market certainly did not make it feel good, but there is still nothing out there that I think looks better or drives better. At launch I believed so much in the car, and its future, that I matched my down payment with an equal purchase of Ford stock hoping it would mature to cover the balloon. (It had a minute too, but so much for that). I am fortunate enough that I can consider getting a replacement or even starting the whole process over again with a new one… but I loved this car.

Live more, laugh more, love more because it can all change in a 3 seconds. Fortunately for me and my family, 2 wonderful kids along with an amazing wife and a fantastic mother, OOG left us being great at what she was designed, built and programmed to do. I will forever be grateful to her. RIP OOG (out of gas, ICYW)

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[Deleted member 19354]

Damn. I’m glad you are safe and I hope recovering well

 

[Norcolboulder]

A similar accident became an insurance total and those $ became a 23 GTPE I shipped to Colorado. Happy you are safe and good luck as you move to a replacement vehicle. Keep us informed if you acquire another EV and why.

 

[devmach-e]

The car can be replaced. You can't. The car did its' job to protect you.

 

[dalola]

Yikes! That certainly could have been a lot worse! Thank God you are ok.

I've totaled two Fords, and should probably be dead. But since I'm not, I keep buying them....I consider it some kind of Divine subtle hint... ?

 

[Doug&Julie]

Dayum...glad you're still with us.

 

[ChasingCoral]

Wow. That's one hell of a story. So glad you're safe and it came out so well.

Elk: 1
Mach E: 1

You win!

 

[4wheeldog]

Wow! Amazing that you came through OK.
We drove a Subaru Outback for a dozen years (287k miles) before taking delivery of our MME 6 weeks ago. Subaru’s “And they walked away” ads taking place at the wrecking yard always impressed me. Your post makes me realize this car is even more impressive in that area.

 

[HuntingPudel]

Hokey-smokes! So happy yo hear you are healthy. Sad that the elk and the MME both bit the dust. Glad that the car’s safety features worked. ??

 

[Ford_orr]

That's a lot of freezer meat ?

 

[tuminatr]

Thanks for posting, and I am glad you and your family are OK

 

[Jimrpa]

Wow! So glad you’re ok and your car did its ultimate job.
we don’t have elk, but we have these nasty “micro-elk” otherwise known as “deer”. Horrible, horrible animals that do nothing other than destroying yards and cars.

 

[dbsb3233]

We drive that stretch at least 6-7 times a year, going between No Colo and Vegas (or Reno). That's one of the reasons I try to always drive in the daylight hours. So many deer and elk, especially at night. It's even worse on some parts of I-80 in NV. The large blood stains on the road are a tell-tale sign.

Glad you and your family survived, and glad for all of us that the Mach-E handles it so well.

 

[Jerrytball]

Yikes! That certainly could have been a lot worse! Thank God you are ok.

I've totaled two Fords, and should probably be dead. But since I'm not, I keep buying them....I consider it some kind of Divine subtle hint... ?

I borderline totaled my 2011 Mustang at the racetrack about $15,000 worth of damage, and even after they put it all back together, I could not tell the car had ever been wrecked. It’s a solid car gas or electric. That’s the first time I realize the roof. The steel roof on the Mustang is an actual part $300. If you get the glass $4500 lol

 

[MBCook]

In the total of a couple of seconds (while I had no idea what had occurred) the car stopped itself, protected me and turned on the hazards.

It will stop itself and turn on hazards in a bad crash? I‘ve never heard that.

That’s a hell if a lot of damage. I came close to hitting a deer about 20 years ago, that scares me enough. Glad we don’t have elk in my area.

Great to hear you were protected so well and could walk away.

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