2023 4Runner TRD PRO vs. Elk

Some friends were returning from their mountain cabin this week when their 2023 4Runner TRD Pro collided with a large elk at about 40mph.

Luckily, nobody was seriously hurt but there was significant damage to the 4Runner and I suspect the vehicle will be totaled - heartbreaking loss after my buddy waited about a year to get his rig.

As for the elk, it wondered off into the woods…

 

Jesus.. that loss hurts, atleast everyone was OK, could've been alot worse, runners are replaceable, ppl.. not so much, it's crazy what an animal can do to a 4500lb+ weight vehicle, and walk it off like it's nothing..... but on the bright side. The 2024 runner Is yet again still the same generation, I'm sure they'll be able to get a new one

 

It looks like the 4Runner did its job and absorbed most of the shock and minimized injuries. It will be much easier for your buddy to obtain a 2024 if this gets totaled.

 

I'm glad your friends are okay. People need to remember: It's just a pile of metal and glass. It can be replaced. YOU cannot be replaced.

P.S. People forget just how freakin' huge Elk are. They're the size of horses, right?

 

They were very impressed with how much of the impact the 4Runner absorbed.

They were even more impressed by the elk and its ability to walk it off…!

 

Crumple zones did their job, windshield doesn't even look like it's cracked! Glad everyone made it out ok, Bull Elk can weigh upwards of 1,000 lbs!

This was the result of a 50mph collision with an approximate 200 lb Mule Deer in my old 3rd gen. Deer and me went on our own way...

 

I hope the elk is ok and has a similar story

 

Did the frt airbags deploy?

 

The elk be like "tis but a scratch"

 

Elks are pretty tall. Looks like the elk missed the aluminum crash bar and its mounting frame horns, which means the frame crumple zones didn't activate. Modern Toyota body panels are wafer-thin to save weight, and crumple easily. Given the high value of used Pros, I think insurance will choose to repair it. New hood, fenders, radiator support, radiator, condenser, grille, headlights... Might be a $20k repair.



Everyone getting their ARB bumpers to avoid this happening?

 

The elk walked off unfazed and didn’t seem to give 2-shtz…

Amazingly huge, beautiful and strong animals - don’t mess with nature!

I don’t believe the airbags deployed but, based on the damage, I can’t see this NOT being totaled.

I can tell you the owner wants it totaled…

 

i dont think mine would have saved her.

 

The PRO exhaust sound should have warned off that elk.

 

I'm glad your friends are okay. Hitting an elk at 40 mph I'd say they are very lucky. My Dad was an insurance adjuster years ago in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. At least once a year someone would hit a deer while driving a sedan that resulted in their most important part being crushed when the deer went just above the hood and straight through the windshield.

 

Might have been a different story if the elk went under the vehicle. Looks like it hit just right for it to walk away. And so lucky it didn't go up into the windshield! Glad your buddy is OK. And yes I would want it totaled too. It would be months before he gets it back and the worry if it will ever be the same vehicle.