BEND, Ore. -- A Bend man is lucky to be alive after a deer went through the front windshield of his car on Highway 97 Tuesday night, police said.

OSP photo

The damage to the car that hit the deer.

The incident happened about 7:30 p.m. as 37-year-old Jeremy Pollard drove his Subaru station wagon southbound on the highway, north of Deschutes Junction.

Suddenly, a deer ran into the path of his vehicle. Pollard hit the deer and it went partially through the front windshield on the driver's side, said Oregon State Police Sergeant Eric Brown.

According to Brown, Pollard was extremely lucky that the windshield partially deflected the deer and he did not receive the direct impact, which killed the deer.

Pollard maintained control of his vehicle and came to a quick stop along the highway.