So yesterday I was driving home from work. I use the freeway for most of the way but after that it's a series of unlit roads surrounded by bush. There is a strecth of road, about 1km long that is an 80 zone.

Going down this stretch I saw something on the side of the road up ahead. My initial thought was that it was a big brown dog. It wasn't. It was a kangaroo, and it must of had a death wish because it started coming onto the road just as I was nearing it. I braced myself for the worse, but only whacked it in the head with my side view mirror. It was fine. I though for sure however that it would turn around now that I had given it a headache.

 

No. It decided it would keep going and ended up being totalled by a car coming the other way. This person wasn't as lucky as I was, and the kangaroo landed in the middle of their bonnet. I saw all this happen in my rear view mirror, and the roo ended up on the side of the road that I was on (behind me of course)

 

Now, kangaroos are extremely muscle bound creatures. They are like hitting a tree. So my initial reaction was to turn around and check that the people that hit it were okay. So I did a u turn and headed back, only to have a car coming up on the side of the road the roo was lying in the middle of. I panicked and flashed my highbeams as much as I could. This was an unlit road, so it would of been impossible for them to stop in time.

 

Well, they ended up turning around too, just as the people who had hit it came down to inspect. Mind you, bits of their car were now all over the road. The people thanked me for flashing them, and luckily they were big guys and they dragged the poor creature off the road and into the brush.

 

Either this roo planned to be hit, or its brain activity was nil. I had hit it in the head, so it was its own fault for continuing to cross the road.

 

all i can say is WHAT THE #$#%#%.

The often wait until the last moment before they 'head home', whether it be curiosity or bravery- waiting and watching this fast moving vehicle approaching before thinking '****' Id better get back to..somewhere safe/home territory/somewhere I can outrun this beast if it chances to chase me.

They seem to come unstuck when 'home' is on the opposite side of the road, they like to head into the sun also.

Not many animals in nature will run into each other so the thought that a car wont take action to prevent contact doesnt seem to occur until too late. Ive seen mobs of hundred or so all running, changing direction and jumping fences in a tight group with no mishaps.

 

Thankfully in a way it wasnt your car damaged. Good of you to go back and check the people in both cars and Id hope the roo also incase it was still alive it would need putting down.

(put these up before)

These guys thought the road was a good place for a sunbake...

and still deciding whether or not they really have to move..

Yes, they aren't too bright are they?

 

I had no doubt in my mind that it was dead, from what I saw in my rear view mirror

 

Though this isn't the first incident I've had with a roo. I've had one jump out right in front of me and completely stop. Just watching me coming towards it. That one was lucky I'd just come out of a school zone and didn't have a chance to speed up to much. Its legs got caught under my bumper but it got up and bounced away lol

The problem is, I live near a mental hospital that is situated in the middle of the forest. You go there in the afternoon and there is no less than 200 roos just sitting out in the open. Of course the chances are good that at least on of them wants to cross the road