Courtney Deveau and her boyfriend Zachary Legacy were talking about moose signs and fencing around the highway they were driving on just moments before they hit a moose that crashed their Volkswagen Golf.
The collision occurred in early December on Highway 7 near Geary and 28-year-old N.B. Devoe was taken to hospital with serious injuries after being kicked in the head by the animal. Three weeks later, she is still in the process of recovery, which her family says could take several months.
Legacy, who was driving at the time, saw the elk's front legs strike Devoe in the head at least twice as the dying animal tried to tear its limbs off the car, he said.
“I tried to get in front of her but my seatbelt was on and I was in such shock. I didn't know if I had to press the belt button to take it off, I was just trying to get in front of her,” he said.
Legacy said he cried and felt helpless on the dark, cold highway until professional help arrived.
He said Courtney became unresponsive after the blow and did not respond for “a long time” while she was being treated in hospital. Legacy had a bruise on his forearm and several scratches, he said.
“I was shocked that any of us were gone, the roof was pulled back, you know, all the way to the back seats,” he said.
“I played it over and over and over in my head,” he said. “What could I have done differently.
“I don't really know the answer to that question.”
He said if there were lights on the highway, they might have spotted the moose.
Grand Bay Westfield RCMP confirmed the collision but were unable to provide further information prior to publication.
Jennifer Devoe said she learned of her daughter's accident when a woman called and texted her on Courtney's cell phone.
“I went into shock, I was furious,” Devoe said.
When Deveau got to Saint John Regional Hospital, she said, she was told her daughter was being transferred to the intensive care unit.
“She suffered a traumatic brain injury, her jaw was broken and several ribs were broken,” Deveau said.
Courtney was put into an induced coma. Since then, she has made little progress every few days, Deveau said.
She saw Courtney wake up at regular intervals, squeeze the doctor's hand, blink her eyes, say a few words, follow her parents with her eyes, write on the board, answer questions, and walk with assistance.
“We were really amazed by her progress at Christmas: she was reading a bit.
“Now she's smiling like she's showing her teeth to smile, which is what we always said she had that million-dollar smile… We can see that million-dollar smile again,” Devoe said.
She said she gets upset at times when Courtney doesn't recognize her mother, but at the same time remains hopeful and grateful for her daughter's progress.
The mother said she also gets emotional when her daughter recalls their memories and gestures.
She said Courtney is a very active person who enjoys volunteering in the community and enjoys going to the gym.
Devoe shares an apartment in Saint John with Courtney, and her absence from home is felt, she said.
“She’s very funny, very kind, and has a lot of empathy and compassion,” Deveau said. “At the same time, she likes to take the bull by the horns.”
Deveau said she doesn't know how the traumatic brain injury might affect Courtney's future, but the family continues to pray for a full recovery.
Legacy said the collision changed his perspective on life. He said he was grateful to the people who stopped to call 911 and covered the injured couple with blankets on the cold night.
“You always think it won’t be you,” he said.
“It gave me a whole new perspective on how precious life is, how fragile it can be, and I really thought a lot about how much Courtney and I love to do together.”
