Man walks away after vehicle totalled by moose collision

RCMP say quick thinking saved the life of a driver who hit a moose on Highway 35 near Manning in northern Alberta.

Kevin McFadgen was on his way to work in Peace River early Tuesday morning when a passing semi-trailer created a whiteout around his car.

When he was hit by the wave of snow, McFadgen immediately slowed his car – just in time to see a moose up ahead, in his lane.

Without time to avoid crashing into the animal, McFadgen ducked down below the dashboard and into the front passenger seat as his vehicle struck the full-grown moose, which flipped up over the hood of the vehicle, peeling away the roof of the car.

McFadgen managed to get out of the vehicle and call for help.

He was taken to a local hospital with only minor injuries.  

"Judging by the extent of the damage seen on the vehicle, this is a perfect example of a driver who was paying attention to the road therefore able to quickly respond,” said Sgt. Thomas Howell, Detachment Commander of the RCMP Manning detachment.   

"Without Mr. McFadgen quick action and thinking, he may not be here today to tell this story."

The moose did not survive the collision and was removed from the highway by the local maintenance contractor.