A couple is lucky to be alive after a normal drive through Montana resulted in out-of-control flames. They hit a deer with their Subaru Ascent and had seconds to escape before the SUV was engulfed by fire. 

Subaru Ascent bursts into flames after hitting a deer 

A couple was driving through the Montana countryside in the dark when a deer suddenly crossed their path. They hit it with a Subaru Ascent and the front end crumpled like a tin can. 

They were just realizing what had happened when they heard popping sounds from the mangled hood and dripping fluids, such as gas and oil. 

Andelyn and her husband could see plumes of deer fur and smoke rising in the air, and then they noticed that the area around their car battery was glowing. That’s when they took action and attempted to escape. 

According to Torque News, they heard fire crackling and the husband jumped out. Adelyn had to kick the door open to exit the smoldering SUV. As her husband called 911, she tried retrieving expensive recent purchases from the back. 

Much was lost as the Subaru Ascent was completely engulfed in flames. Local firefighters shared that it could have exploded. They were able to control the blaze in under an hour. Only the frame of the SUV was left. 

No one was injured during the incident. Drivers have a one in 116 chance to hit a deer as there are roughly 1.23 million deer collins per year. An average of 200 people die due to striking deer with cars each year.