ST. CLAIR, MO (KTVI-FOX2now.com)—
A St. Clair, Missouri family is in mourning after one of their loved ones is killed in a bizarre crash with a deer. It happened Sunday night.
Wednesday, family members were preparing to lay 53 year old robin Bradford to rest."He loved to be outside in the air. He loved to be on the motorcycle," said one of Robin's five children, Amanda Harris. Bradford was outside on his motorcycle about 9:30 Sunday night when the horrible crash happened. He was north on Highway 47 in Franklin County returning home to St. Clair from his sister's birthday party. His family says out of nowhere, a deer jumped onto the road and hit Bradford's motorcycle just north of Rockford School Road. He fell and was hit and killed by a car coming the other way. Flowers now mark the spot where robin lost his life. His wife of 30 years Denise is still in shock.
"This is the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my life," Denise told us. She continued, "This is a devastation that you can never expect. And it's something that you never hope anybody else has to go through."
Amanda added, "It's absolutely heartbreaking for our family. It's unreal, I still can't believe it."
The latest Missouri Highway Patrol figures from 2007 show more than 34 hundred deer versus vehicle crashes during that year. 350 people were hurt- 72 of the injuries involved motorcycles. Five people were killed- three of the five were on motorcycles. Denise says since the crash she's frightened every time she drives.
She said, "I've changed the way I've been driving all the week just because I'm afraid a deer is going to jump out and hit my car. I mean, it works on your mind."
Robin's family is now pulling together for support.
"We all need be together for this so we can help each other through this because that's what my dad would have wanted," said Amanda.
No charges were filed against the other driver. Compounding the grief for Robin's family- one of his children is in a treatment center after a meth conviction and will not be able to attend his services. Robin's wake is Thursday- the same day as Amanda's 30th birthday. The funeral is Friday.
