A UNEXPECTING student hit a deer while taking his driving test – but still passed.

Tom Lo, 17, from Copford, was taking his test, in Colchester, on Monday.

He was about 10 minutes into the exam and had just left Rowhedge, driving down Mersea Road towards Fingringhoe.

Tom said: “I was going about 40 or 45 miles an hour and I saw a deer run out in front of my car.

“It was about 30 centimetres in front of the car.”

Sadly, there was nothing Tom could do and the deer, which Tom believes was a muntjac, was killed in the collision.

Tom was not about to let that stop him mid-test, however, and went on to pass with only two minor errors.

He said: “The driving examiner checked the car and then we went on with the exam.

“It was something I was not expecting so I was a bit shaken up, but luckily I wasn’t too shaken up to continue.”

Tom has been having driving lessons for two and a half months with Robert Jezierski of Coggeshall Driving School.

Mr Jezierski said: “He has kept his composure and he did very well.

“He has only had 20 hours of lessons.

“We teach them the emergency stop as part of the curriculum that we cover but it is very rarely that they have to put it into practice.

“They should not be doing emergency stops as they’re taught to reduce their speed, I have only had to stop the car once myself for anyone.”

Mr Jezierski has never seen anything like this before in his 16 years as a driving instructor.

He said: “He was definitely a bit shaken up, he was not his normal self.

“The examiner got out and said can he have a word with me, then he pointed to the damage at the front of the car.

“Luckily the damage is only a cracked number plate on the front.”

Tom is studying economics, maths, physics and biology at Colchester Sixth Form College and was keen to get his test out of the way before the start of his exam period in the next few weeks.

He said: “I got this test as a cancellation, the next one was June 15, so it was quite important to pass it before my exams.

“I was really pleased because I have worked hard to pass the test.”

Far from being put off, Tom drove himself to college the very next morning in his own car and is now the designated driver among his friends.

He said: “I feel a lot more adult now because I have got to manage my car and drive on my own.”