Anchorage teen in ICU after moose crash on icy road

Firefighters measured up to 40,000 pounds of force being applied to the vehicle during a moose collision on an icy Anchorage road Monday night. The crash left 18-year-old Autumn Stone trapped inside a badly damaged car. She is currently recovering in the Intensive Care Unit.

Multiple rescue crews used hydraulic tools known as the Jaws of Life to extract Stone from the wreck. Anchorage firefighter Jason Dolph explained that moose are suspended in the air when struck at speed. In this incident, the animal landed on the hood, windshield, and roof of the vehicle, generating the extreme pressure on the car.

Megan Stone, Autumn’s mother, stated that her daughter was driving home when the moose appeared in the roadway. Stone said she does not believe her daughter had time to brake. Medical professionals who treated Autumn have told the family they are amazed she is alive.

Autumn’s injuries include brain bruising, lacerations, and a broken hand. Her mother reported on Wednesday that Autumn is expected to remain in the ICU for several days. While the wreck appears severe in photographs, Stone noted that her daughter did not sustain catastrophic injuries.

Local wildlife experts say this is the time of year when vehicle collisions with moose increase in the Anchorage area. Fish and Game Biologist Cory Stantorf noted that animals are moving due to the rut. He added that drivers are commuting and students are traveling to school in pitch-black conditions without snow to provide contrast. Stantorf urged drivers to slow down because reaction times are shorter than in the summer.

Stantorf said there are typically about 100 moose-vehicle collisions in the Anchorage area every year. The current conditions make it harder for drivers to see the animals. Stone said she is grateful for her daughter’s survival after seeing the extent of the damage to the car.

Megan Stone described the medical team’s reaction to the crash. She quoted the EMTs and doctors as being amazed that her daughter is alive. The family is focusing on Autumn’s recovery as she remains in the hospital.