A Washington couple was seriously injured Thursday morning after striking a deer on their motorcycle as they traveled on Highway 2 south of Libby.

On Thursday evening, the 57-year-old victim was in stable condition at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital and his 55-year-old wife was in critical condition at Kalispell Regional Medical Center, according to Bob Hensley of the Montana Highway Patrol.

The Arlington, Wash., couple was traveling north toward Libby when a deer darted in their path. The motorcycle struck the deer head-on near Break Road, four miles south of town, throwing the two from the bike, Hensley said.

David Edwards, a nurse, responded because he was near the scene at the time of the accident. Paramedics Jay Maloney and Jay Moody also responded, along with Penny Kyes of the Libby Volunteer Ambulance.

The couple was transported to St. John’s Lutheran Hospital. The woman was then airlifted to Kalispell.

"They (the victims) were doing everything right – they had leathers on, they had helmets,” Kyes said, "but they had some serious injuries.”

Speed and alcohol do not appear to be factors in the accident, Hensley said.