A young teen was killed Tuesday when a deer ricocheted off another car and into the passenger-side windshield as the boy was being driven to school.
Kevin Donohue was riding in a vehicle going west on State Route 322 around 7:15 a.m. when a deer sprang in front of a car traveling east in the opposite lane, Pennsylvania State Police said.
That vehicle, which police believe is a black Toyota Sienna, smashed into the deer with enough force to send the animal flying through the air and into the westbound lane. It landed squarely on the windshield of the car the youngster was in, shattering the glass and fatally injuring Donohue.
“The juvenile succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased,” state troopers said in their statement.
Authorities didn’t immediately name the victim, but Malvern Preparatory School on Wednesday identified Kevin as one of its sophomores in the class of 2027. Neither the school nor the police gave his age.
“Kevin’s untimely departure has left a void in our community, and our hearts go out to his family, friends, and all who knew him during this difficult time,” school officials said in a statement obtained by WCAU-TV. “Kevin’s presence was a source of joy and encouragement to peers, teachers, and staff alike. His infectious smile and warm personality made him a beloved member of the school community, and his loss is deeply felt by all who had the privilege of knowing him.”
Police were still seeking the first driver, who didn’t stop. While leaving the scene of an accident involving damage, injury or death is potentially a crime under Pennsylvania law, the absence of a direct collision made it less clear-cut, state police spokesman Michael Carter told the Morning Call.
“At this time, the crash is not being classified as a hit and run due to the primary factor of the crash being environmental,” Carter said, adding that although the investigation is still ongoing, “There are also no pending charges at this time.”
Residents said deer often crowd that stretch of road, making for dangerous driving. A similar fate befell model and former Miss Universe contestant Kseniya Alexandrova, 30, who died in Russia last month after an elk crashed through the passenger-side windshield of a car driven by her husband.
