On a remote highway in pitch darkness tragedy struck…

How Do You Survive Grief?
September 24, 2025

It was a Sunday night in October 2013 when tragedy struck…

I was driving home with my three little dogs after checking on a friend’s cabin near the Canadian border. The remote two-laned highway weaved past open meadows and marshes. 

At first, I didn’t know what was happening in the darkness. I saw a large flash of brown fur moving left to right, then impact. 

There was no time to brake. Imagine traveling at 55 mph in total darkness and hitting a cement wall. 

I realized, far too late, that it had to be a large animal. There was no time to react.

I braced myself for certain death. I could not see anything except brown fur coming at me. I knew the giant body would soon slam through the windshield and likely end my life. I panicked for my dogs, who were asleep in the backseat. 

An explosion of metal crushing and glass shattering made me instinctively close my eyes as I gripped the steering wheel, helpless to what was happening. The bang of the airbag deploying, gunpowder filled the air as my Bronco veered into the next lane of oncoming traffic. There was no way I would survive.

My dogs. Where are my dogs?

When my vehicle came to a stop, I sat motionless, afraid to open my eyes.

The horrible realization came over me that I must be dead. It was eerily quiet, and a thought popped into my mind. Everything the spirits told me was true about dying.

It feels like you are still alive.

In the next few seconds, I bravely opened my eyes. I wasn’t dead. I saw the airbag, twisted dashboard, and broken glass everywhere, but shockingly not from the windshield. The side windows had exploded.

 

I instinctively reached for my three dogs only to realize that all of them were in my lap. I don’t know when that happened, but they were shivering in fear. I smelled gasoline but couldn’t get out. My door was jammed shut, and the jaws of life were needed to extricate us. I held my dogs close as emergency crews worked their magic. I took a very deep breath when suddenly two shotgun blasts went off. I looked in the rear-view mirror and saw the silhouette of the enormous carcass slumped on the highway and two men who ended the moose’s misery. 

“I’ve never seen anyone walk away after hitting a 1000 lb moose, let alone with no injuries,” the emergency room doctor said as he rechecked my vitals.

“Not even a scratch,” he said out loud, as if to himself. “You must have someone watching over you.”

 

My dogs did not seem to have any trauma from the accident, but I did. It took me a while before I would drive again. It was over a year before I would drive at night. I still have flashbacks and can hear the sound of metal crunching and glass exploding. Post-traumatic stress is real. 

I was finally able to communicate with the energy of the moose to express my despair for her life ending. I had not wanted to think about it for the longest time but I felt it would bring the closure I needed. I had agonized over her death and felt responsible in many ways even though I knew I had no time to avoid her. I thought that she possibly had a calf with her and that made me feel even worse.  She made it very clear that I was nowhere close in my assumptions. While I will keep that conversation private for now, I will say her messages shocked me in amazing and unbelievable ways. The moose’s messages brought more than closure. She opened a whole new perspective about my work as an animal communicator and lightworker in this Universe. 

 

Perhaps someday, I will write a book about this experience. 

 

Life can change in an instant. We’ve all heard that saying, but once you’ve lived it, you understand on a whole new level and will never be the same. 

My dogs and I went home that night with not even a scratch. I am blessed and grateful to know someone was watching over us that night. 

 

Have you experienced a life-changing event?

 

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Karen is an award-winning animal communicator and best-selling author who specializes in pet loss and the afterlife. She has documented her journey with her heartwarming and inspirational books, The Pet I Can’t Forget, The Amazing Afterlife of Animals and Hear All Creatures.
 
She also offers a free app and animal communication coaching programs for all skill levels as well as loving support and guidance for those struggling with the loss of a beloved companion.
 
Karen is the CEO and founder of Painted Rain Ranch Animal Sanctuary a non-profit charity that serves as a final refuge for elderly, special needs, and abandoned companion animals. Karen saves the pets no one else wants on her 30-acre farm in the Inland Pacific Northwest. Proceeds from Karen’s books and coaching benefit the animals at the sanctuary.
 
 
The app is FREE Download here or in the APP store on your device
 

5 Comments

  1. Sherrie says:

    Wow, Karen, this is so scary. I hit a deer and it totalled my car. I had severe lacerations and stitches from the windshield. I can’t believe you walked away with no injuries. Incredible story! Someone was indeed looking out for you!

  2. Kirt Morrison says:

    I’m an EMS and have been to many car vs animal accidents. It is incredible that there were no injuries. Moose are huge and unless you stand next to one you have no idea how massive they are. Thank God you and your dogs were okay. What a miracle. Stay safe…and I get the part about not wanting to drive after that. PTSD is real.

  3. Witmer K. says:

    This story is so crazy. You still had much to do on this Earth as it was not your time to go. I truly believe that someone was watching over you that night. Thankfully, you and your dogs were okay. Thank you for your endless and tireless work to help those of us who are suffering from a loss. God Bless you, Karen

  4. Desiree says:

    I’m so glad you and your dogs made it through this unharmed. We all have angels who watch over us and yours was working overtime that night.

  5. Peter Fulton says:

    Hi karen i found you through your videos on Youtube and wanted to thank you for sharing all of your experiences. I would love to know what the moose told you that was so amazing. I look forward to that book!

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