ENID, OK -- While listening to Bill Carpenter describe what happened to his SUV Wednesday night, you'd think he had been attacked during a safari. But he and his wife Deena were driving home from church on U.S. 81 in Enid when they hit an elephant.
"Probably half a dozen people said 'you hit a what?,"" Bill recounted with a smile.
Enid Police say the 4,500-pound animal ran down the street from the Garfield County Fairgrounds after being spooked by an employee with the Family Fun Circus.
Part of its tusk ripped a hole in bill's car, and broke off.
Deena tried to flag down incredulous drivers.
"I said 'we just hit an elephant', and the husband (of one driver) said 'you mean a deer', and I said 'I hit my head but it wasn't that hard, I saw an elephant'."
Local veterinarian Dr. Dwight Olson remembers being called by police, who informed him that his services might be needed.
"They need you to go sedate him," Olson remembers, "and I said 'now tell me the real reason'."
Olson says he gave the animal antibiotic injections and anti inflammatory medication.
"The elephant didn't appear to have any broken legs, didn't have any major lacerations," he says. "It was still in its right, alert mind."
The Carpenters are now doing fine, with the exception of having a severe case of disbelief.
"I said, did we really hit an elephant?" Bill remembers. "I said no, this is Oklahoma. There's no elephants in Oklahoma!"
"We got back in the car and didn't know whether to laugh or cry," Deena added.
The Family Fun Circus' operations manager did not return calls from News Channel 4, however their booking agent says they're on their way to Pawhuska.
"Probably half a dozen people said 'you hit a what?,"" Bill recounted with a smile.
Enid Police say the 4,500-pound animal ran down the street from the Garfield County Fairgrounds after being spooked by an employee with the Family Fun Circus.
Part of its tusk ripped a hole in bill's car, and broke off.
Deena tried to flag down incredulous drivers.
"I said 'we just hit an elephant', and the husband (of one driver) said 'you mean a deer', and I said 'I hit my head but it wasn't that hard, I saw an elephant'."
Local veterinarian Dr. Dwight Olson remembers being called by police, who informed him that his services might be needed.
"They need you to go sedate him," Olson remembers, "and I said 'now tell me the real reason'."
Olson says he gave the animal antibiotic injections and anti inflammatory medication.
"The elephant didn't appear to have any broken legs, didn't have any major lacerations," he says. "It was still in its right, alert mind."
The Carpenters are now doing fine, with the exception of having a severe case of disbelief.
"I said, did we really hit an elephant?" Bill remembers. "I said no, this is Oklahoma. There's no elephants in Oklahoma!"
"We got back in the car and didn't know whether to laugh or cry," Deena added.
The Family Fun Circus' operations manager did not return calls from News Channel 4, however their booking agent says they're on their way to Pawhuska.
