birdie

Vulture Crashes Thru Minivan, Maims Woman

Updated 11:16 AM EDT, Fri, Mar 27, 2009

3 Comments    Post a Comment

PRINTEMAILSHARE

Getty Images

A man and his wife got the shock of their lives when a turkey vulture crashed through their minivan windshield on the highway.

 

State police say a turkey vulture injured a passenger when it crashed through a minivan's windshield Friday.
     
The soaring carrion eater crashed into a red Dodge Caravan at about 8:15 a.m. on Interstate 80 in Parsippany. It struck Vanessa Hurtado, 32, of Hopatcong, in the face, causing minor cuts and getting glass in her eye. 

The turkey ended up in the middle seat behind the driver, 35-year-old Jorge Hurtado, who wasn't hurt. He told police that the bird was alive for a brief time following the crash, but the responding office pronounced the animal dead at the scene. 

Police said the vehicle was towed away by Eagle Towing. Vanessa Hurtado first asked that the vulture be removed from the car, lest it marinate in the heat all day. 

Turkey vultures, which are not related to turkeys, generally soar in circles on wind currents and are often highway shoulders eating road kill. 

This isn't the first time a turkey vulture has left its mark on a New Jerseyan. In June 2004, a motorcyclist driver was hit in the head by one. While attempting to get the live bird off of him, the man lost control and struck another car. He dies of his injuries.