18-year-old Autumn Stone in ICU after Anchorage moose collision

An 18-year-old Anchorage driver is in the intensive care unit after a moose struck her vehicle Monday night, landing on the hood, windshield and roof area of the car. Autumn Stone was driving home when the animal entered the roadway on an icy road, according to her mother, Megan Stone. The collision left the vehicle badly damaged with Autumn trapped inside.

Firefighters used Jaws of Life hydraulic rescue tools to cut her out, requiring several crews to complete the extraction. Megan Stone said her daughter does not believe she had any time to brake before the impact. As of Wednesday, Autumn remained in the ICU, where she was expected to stay for several days.

Autumn has brain bruising, lacerations and a broken hand, her mother said, but did not appear to have catastrophic injuries. EMTs and doctors have told the family they are amazed she survived. "That's what we've been hearing this entire ordeal, from the EMTs to the doctors; they are amazed that she's alive," Megan Stone said.

Anchorage firefighter Jason Dolph said moose are especially dangerous at highway speeds. "Typically when a car strikes a moose, that moose becomes suspended in the air," Dolph said. "And when that moose then lands on the vehicle. In this case, it landed on the hood and kind of the windshield and roof area. We see forces of 30,000 to 40,000 pounds being put onto that car."

Fish and Game Biologist Cory Stantorf said the Anchorage area averages about 100 moose-vehicle collisions per year, and this period marks the start of the annual increase. Moose are moving more during the rut as they follow cows, while morning commutes and school travel occur in darkness. Stantorf noted the lack of snow reduces contrast around the animals. "So drivers really need to slow down because there's just not the reaction time that we have in the summer," Stantorf said.

Megan Stone said she has seen photographs of the wrecked vehicle. "It's horrifying to see those photos as her mom, but I'm also grateful, because I can put into context just how close we were to losing her," she said. Autumn remained in the ICU Wednesday.