Two people were killed and eight others injured in a multi-vehicle crash involving a moose Thursday evening.
RCMP responded to the scene on Route 11 near Saint-Louis-de-Kent, N.B. shortly after 8:30 p.m.
Police say it appears a van was travelling northbound when it swerved to avoid a moose. However, the vehicle struck the animal and the driver crossed the yellow centre line, colliding head-on with a truck carrying three adults and three children.
Both vehicles left the road when they collided. The truck had been pulling a camper-trailer that came loose in the crash.
Police say a third vehicle carrying two occupants drove off the road to avoid the pileup.
The driver of the van, a 60-year-old man, and his passenger, a 62-year-old woman, died at the scene. Their names have not been released but police say they were both from Miramichi.
The other eight people involved in the crash were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police say they are from the Bouctouche and Pigeon Hill areas.
“There’s one patient that was hospitalized, but it’s not life-threatening,” says Sgt. Marco Papillon of the Richibucto RCMP.
An RCMP reconstructionist travelled to the scene to investigate the crash. Traffic was rerouted around the crash site for roughly eight hours. A section of the highway was still closed around noon as crews cleaned up the scattered debris. It reopened Friday afternoon.
There are signs along Highway 11 warning motorists to watch for moose, but it does not have moose fencing. Thursday’s accident has people calling on the government to either twin the highway or install moose fencing.
“We should have a fence around here, from Moncton going to Miramichi,” says motorist Angela Doiron.
“There’s a lot of cutbacks but still, what’s the value of a person’s life, eh?” says motorist Johan Hall.
When asked about twinning the highway or installing moose fencing during a campaign stop in Johnston,N.B. Liberal Leader Brian Gallant wouldn’t commit to either.
“I think that a lot of the rural areas like this one would benefit immensely and become a lot safer if we were able to invest more in brush cutting like we’re proposing,” he said.
Moose hunting season begins Sept. 23 and it’s also close to mating season, which means more moose will be on the move in New Brunswick.
As a result, the RCMP are asking motorists to be extra cautious on New Brunswick highways over the next little while, especially at night.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Jonathan MacInnis
