Erin Wood says her husband Brian, who was killed in a car crash in Washington State last week, gave his life to save her and their unborn baby.
"Trying to think about life without him right now is pretty impossible," a tearful Wood told CTV News on Tuesday.
"I know he would want me to not give up and just forget about life … and I know this baby is going to need a mom and need someone to be really strong for it."
The couple was driving down a Whidbey Island highway Friday night when an oncoming Chevrolet Blazer suddenly crossed the centre line.
A head-on collision could have killed them both, but Wood says her husband heroically veered the car so he would take the brunt of the impact.
"He was acting to save me and save the baby," she said. "He was the best husband and a wonderful father … he proved that with what he did in his final moment."
Living in a bad dream
She was rushed to Whidbey General Hospital for treatment, where Wood says she struggled to cope with the harsh reality of her situation.
"I kept waiting for that moment of release where I would wake up and it would all just be a bad dream," she said, crying.
"I think the longer I get down this road the more I realize that it really is reality, and I'm not going to get my life back."
Wood was released from hospital, and both she and the baby are expected to recover.
She describes her husband, a successful 33-year-old video game designer at Relic Entertainment, as a selfless man who loved his work.
"I'm thankful that others will get to see that side of him … and know that he was just such an amazing man."
Police considering vehicular homicide charges
Washington State Troopers believe drugs were a factor in the crash, and say two women from the Blazer could face vehicular homicide charges.
Sgt. Jason Longoria says the SUV swerved into the opposing lane while a passenger was holding the steering wheel.
"Apparently the driver was in the process of putting on a sweatshirt," he said.
A woman and two men were thrown from the vehicle. Both men died.
Wood says she is too distraught to feel angry about what happened to her, and that she is comforted to still have her baby.
"I know there will be moments when I see [Brian] in our child, in different quirks and facial expressions and all of that, and it will really be meaningful to me," she said.
"Even though I won't be able to spend the rest of my life with my husband, I'll be able to spend the rest of my life with his baby."
