The Horrifying Part of Biking

Originally distributed April 2009 as “Cute, exciting, horrifying”

One morning I was biking to the nearby town of Simunye while Mduduzi was driving the volunteers there. It was so delightful cruising along and seeing vultures flying overhead, catching thermals and rising higher and higher, then cruising along in a string across the sky. Farther along several impalas were running parallel to me in the grass about 50yd in from the road. Beautiful!

As I made my way to Simunye there was an unexpected explosion. Flesh and car parts were suddenly flying in my direction. An impala had run out into the road at the wrong time. An SUV was coming toward me and the impala just darted out, giving the driver no chance to avoid it. I saw the impala run out and knew it would be hit. Within a split second the impala and the car merged. The majority of the impala’s body disappeared as soon as the impact happened, probably having been hurled into the bush in the direction from whence it came. But its intestinal contents burst all over the road. I slowed and swerved away from the road, flinching as the debris flew in my direction. The car pulled over several hundred yards past me. I stopped near the scene of the accident to take it all in. I must’ve been in shock because in hindsight, why would I want to see the remains of an animal hit by a car? What was I going to do? What if it was still alive? What if it was disturbingly mangled? Luckily, I didn’t see the body. And the smell from the intestinal contents was putrid and strong. So I continued on my way, trying not to vomit from the smell, which lingered for a while because the breeze was blowing in my direction.

Several minutes later, still on my way to Simunye, I cried. It was so sad and so shocking I was momentarily overcome. I still ride my bike on that road though as often as possible and just hope I don’t witness that same scene again. Sadly, it’s very common, and impalas are the most frequent victims because they’re the most numerous.