It was later than I intended it to be when I drove home from my best friend's house Tuesday night. That was the last night in my 15-plus years of driving I could say I had never hit an animal with my car.

I was traveling 30 mph with the high beams on and radio off. It was very dark on the Mahoning Township road; streetlights are kept to a minimum near the Ukrainian Homestead.I can't be sure what I was thinking about. I could have been coming up with a concrete plan to escape to Canada after the election, exploring the depths of the mystery that is God or daydreaming about the new Kings of Leon album. No one can be sure, but what I am sure of is seeing those bright eyes on the left side of the street before seeing the rest of the deer.At the beginning of a long stretch, a medium-sized tan deer peered straight into my car as he began his mission of crossing the road. I knew the moment I saw him galloping over the blacktop that this was going to be the first deer I ever hit as I attempted to come to a stop. At 10 mph I was able to read his expressions.Now, I'm not a deer whisperer or a pet psychic, but I recognized the cocktail of acceptance and fear on his face, "Well, I'm going to get hit by this car now."When I was about 7 years old living on a dead-end street, I once ran across the street without looking both ways. I felt the red truck's rearview mirror graze my glasses just a second after I saw it and the driver. I'm sure he saw the same look on my face that the deer gave me. I was fine but he was so upset that I was the one who got "The Look" from my mother when he explained what happened.I heard the thunk sound of a deer's butt against my headlight. I immediately pulled over and out of the car with my iPhone flashlight to gaze into the woods. Just like Tom Hanks in "Castaway" I sadly called out, "Deer, I'm sorry. Deer. I'm sorry, deer."I continued my drive home in silence.Pennsylvania has one of the highest deer collision rates in the country.According to a State Farm Insurance statistic, the national average cost per claim reaches $4,135.The insurance company recommends a handful of steps be taken after a deer collision.1. Move your vehicle to a safe place. If possible, pull over to the side of the road, and turn on your hazard lights.2. Call the police. Alert authorities if the deer is blocking traffic or creating a threat for other drivers.3. Document the incident. Take photographs of the roadway, your surroundings, damage to your vehicle, and any injuries you or your passengers sustained.4. Stay away from the animal. A frightened, wounded deer could harm you with its powerful legs and sharp hoofs.I was lucky. My car didn't have so much as a scratch in the white paint, but my soul, and probably the deer, will never be the same.