A bizarre collision early yesterday involving two vehicles and a deer near Mount Airy in western Howard County injured five men and killed the deer, Howard County police said.
The accident occurred about 7 a.m. when a Subaru driven by Aaron Menafee, 20, of Damascus, Montgomery County, hit a deer on northbound Long Corner Road.
The impact threw the deer into southbound traffic, where it crashed through the windshield of a Ford Econoline van with five men inside.
Damien Sanchez, 33, of Mount Airy, the van driver, was in serious but stable condition at Maryland Shock Trauma Center, according to a hospital spokeswoman. Santos Hernandez, 20, who was sitting in the back, was in critical condition at Shock Trauma, the spokeswoman said.
Mario Hernandez, 27, of Mount Airy, a front-seat passenger, was treated at Carroll County General Hospital and released, a spokeswoman said. Police said Ramiro Hernandez, 19, also was taken to Carroll County General, while Federico Hernandez, 17, was taken to Shock Trauma, but hospital representatives could not confirm that. Menafee was not injured, police said.
