A Hovland youth was seriously injured in an all-terrain vehicle accident in Marcell, MN on Sunday, July 25. Nicholas Paul Wiegele, 13, was riding behind Austin Michael Weber, 14, of Zimmerman when the ATV left the roadway and struck a tree, throwing both boys off of the machine. Both were airlifted to St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth.
Nicholas is the son of Paul and Tracy Wiegele of Hovland. On Thursday, July 29—the day Nicholas was released from the hospital—Paul Wiegele agreed to talk to the Cook County News-Herald about the accident. Wiegele explained that he hoped some good could come from the life-threatening accident. He said the family hopes the accident will serve as a caution to other riders.
Wiegele said he normally never lets his son ride an ATV without a helmet. However, he said he had been working on the Polaris while visiting family in Marcell and the boys asked if they could take it for a test drive. Wiegele agreed to let them take a short ride on the driveway. Nicholas drove for a little while, then he and Austin switched places. Austin was driving when the ATV left the gravel roadway and crashed into a tree.
The Wiegele’s younger son, Kyle, curious when his brother didn’t come back immediately, went looking for the boys and found them. His dad credits him for keeping a cool head. “He got back to us right away; he didn’t freak out,” said Wiegele. “If he hadn’t gone looking for them that soon, who knows what would have happened?”
Wiegele called 911 and while he waited for the emergency responders, Wiegele was terrified that his son and friend would not survive. “Nick had a head injury and Austin’s legs were seriously hurt,” he said.
The boys were taken by ambulance to Big Fork Hospital and then airlifted to St. Mary’s in Duluth. Wiegele said the emergency responders did a great job. “The trauma surgeon at St. Mary’s said it was amazing they made it to the hospital,” he said. “We were very, very, lucky.”
Fortunately both boys should fully recover from their injuries. Austin suffered broken femurs in both legs, requiring
surgery. Nicholas suffered a broken cheek bone which may require future surgery, depending on how it heals. At press time, he was recovering at home in Hovland.
“A helmet would have helped,” said Paul Wiegele, who said he normally insists that kids wear a helmet. “If they say, ‘It’s too hot to wear a helmet,’ I tell them, ‘Then it’s too hot to ride the ATV.’ Just one time I let it slip and look what happened.”
Wiegele, still shaken by the sight of his injured son, repeated several times how lucky they were. He expressed appreciation to all of the emergency responders, the doctors, and the Hovland community as well, for its support and prayers.
“We just want to remind people— whether you like it or not—keep that helmet on!”
Austin Weber had completed the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) ATV safety course. Nicholas has not.
Effective January 1, 2006, anyone who operates an ATV and is born after July 1, 1987 must complete the ATV CD Training Course before operating an ATV. Contact the DNR Information Center to receive a copy toll-free at 1-888-646-6367 or contact the Cook County ATV Club at (218) 387-9844.
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