Deer stuns commuters as it tears through underground metro station

Animal joins fans headed downtown to watch Washington Capitals' championship parade

A deer left commuters in Virginia stunned after tearing through an underground metro station during rush hour.

The animal joined fans who were headed downtown to to watch Washington DC’s ice hockey team, the Washington Capitals, celebrate their championship parade.

It wandered into Crystal City Station in Arlington, near Ronald Reagan International Airport, early on Tuesday morning, according to the Metro transit agency.

"Seems like *everyone* wants to get aboard the @Capitals train this morning!” the agency said on Twitter. “Crystal City Station, 8:30am today - this little guy somehow wandered into the tunnel and ended up at the station.”

CCTV footage showed the deer running down a platform, then onto tracks as a metro train pulls away on the opposite side.

An oblivious commuter is seen looking at his phone as the animal jumps back on the platform just yards from where he is stood.

He eventually looks up startled and backs away as the deer jumps down onto the tracks and darts to the other side seconds before another train pulls in.

The deer then dashes past a shocked woman putting on lipstick.

Metro officials said the deer eventually found its way safely out of the station.