The deer was killed when it hit the driver's side of a car headed into town on Concord Road. (David Boraks photo)

A 2-year-old girl was slightly injured Thursday morning when a deer bolted across Concord Road and into the side of the car she was riding in. The accident slowed traffic at morning rush hour near the McConnell neighborhood.
The accident happened around 8:30 a.m. as a resident of Charlotte’s Highland Creek neighborhood was driving west on Concord Road, headed to Community School of Davidson, where her 5-year-old daughter goes to school. Witnesses said the deer bounded northward across the road and into the side of the woman’s Acura SUV.

The deer knocked out both the driver’s and passenger windows. Flying glass struck the woman’s 2-year-old daughter, who was treated for minor cuts by emergency workers at the scene. A police officer on the scene said her injuries were not serious.

Davidson police officer Paul Lowry drags the deer to the roadside. (David Boraks photo)

Rob Phocas of Davidson said he was driving on Concord Road at the time and saw the accident. “The deer just missed me,” he said. Mr. Phocas and other drivers stopped to aid the woman and her children until emergency personnel arrived. A family friend came to pick up the older daughter and take her to school.

Even as emergency personnel were still arriving, a passing driver loaded the deer into his pickup and took it away.

Deer are increasingly common on local roadways and accidents happen regularly. On Nov. 29, a 32-year-old Mooresville driver struck a deer as she was headed northwest on Davidson-Concord Road. Her 2009 Honda suffered $2,500 damage. And a month ago, a driver struck a deer on N.C. 73 east of town. The car was slightly damaged.