A collision with a deer started a chain of events which led to an incredible tanker explosion in Manchester Township.

The crash happened Thursday just before 3 a.m.

According to police, a Honda Civic driven by 18-year-old Marissa Patterson, of Lacey Township, hit a deer traveling east on Route 37. She was heading home from her boyfriend's house when she slammed into the deer on the dark section of highway.

Patterson told police after the deer strike, she went over to the side of the road and called them for assistance, a safe distance away from the highway – a decision that most likely saved her life. Her car was disabled, and unable to move. The impact knocked out the electronics and lights.

"Everybody kept thanking me that I got out of a car and everything I wasn't really worried about myself I was just worried about the truck driver because he was carrying a lot of gas,” says Patterson. “It could have ended really badly. I'm glad we both made it out safe with minor injuries."

Before police could arrive, a tanker truck smashed into her disabled car. The cab cleared the concrete barrier, the tanker flipped and exploded. The driver of the truck was not hurt but did go to the hospital just out of caution.  

“She did 100% the right thing there by getting out of her vehicle, getting off to the side of the road in a safe location and calling police,” says Patrolman Jesse Hoydis.

Officer Hoydis says in 2020, Manchester had 100 vehicle and deer collisions – 40% of them happened in October and November.

Police also say the driver of the truck did nothing wrong and there was nothing else he could do as he hit the disabled, darkened car.