When you see a deer you're supposed to slam the brakes. Reduce speed as much as possible. After that, if a
collision
is inevitable. You have to let go of the brakes. If you keep the brakes on the front of the car slopes down. And the deer will go into your windshield. That's more dangerous than lifting the brake and letting the car go a higher speed. The front gets a lift, and then the deer is struck in a way that increases the chance that it rolls off the hood and over the roof.
Walter knew this because he came from a
small town
. People were closer to
deer
. Most people in the city never seen one in real life. Back at home his dad and his uncles hunted deer. And there was plenty of road kill on the side of the highways. Thus everybody knew how to brake and then not brake before hitting a deer. That is if you did have to hit a deer. Not to say everybody managed to do this. He knew a kid who got killed by a buck that went through his windshield and stabbed him with his antlers.
Walter was lucky though. He found it natural to brake as much as possible up until the last moment. And then letting go. His windshield was cracked. The hood of the car dented. But he was okay.
When he arrived at the office, Ellen was in the parking garage.
"Deer."
"I see. You don't need to go to the hospital?"
"No. I'm fine. I think our team needs a bit of attention right now."