ESSEX , England, April 21 (UPI) — A teenage driver in the U.K. passed his driver’s license test despite striking a deer with his car early in the exam.
Coggeshall Driving School shared a photo of 17-year-old Tom Lo and congratulated him for successfully passing his driving test even though he had the accident.
“Congratulations Tom from Copford on passing your driving test 1st time with just two driving faults, and it’s the first time I’ve had the examiner had to pause the test to check on the deer that jumped into your path, minimal damage to the car but I think we need to say a prayer for the deer,” they wrote.
Lo told BBC Newsbeat that the deer suddenly jumped in front of his vehicle on a road near Colchester as he was accelerating in a 60 mph zone, and was killed in the crash, but the instructor had him continue his test.
“I pulled over after the incident and my driving instructor had a look at the car and checked the deer,” he said. “He said there was nothing we could do and that it wasn’t my fault, so I was told to continue my test.”
Lo was shocked following the accident but said he tried his best to continue the test and ultimately was told that he passed with two minor faults.
“I was a bit shocked and I didn’t really know what to do. I tried to focus because I’d worked quite hard on my driving test,” he said.
The instructor Robert Jezierski, 56, said that Lo was visibly shaken up after the experience.
“Most pupils, when they’ve finished the test and they’re told that they’ve passed – they have a big smile and put their thumbs up,” Jezierski said. “But Tom just sat there quite quiet, obviously in shock at what had happened and a bit worried what I was going to say about the car.”
