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Nelson Family Story

"Kyle's choice not to buckle up affected our family forever."

Kyle Nelson of Lidgerwood, ND, was a 20-year-old young man who seemed to have life figured out. That changed on November 13, 2014. This is the Nelson Family story.
 

Kyle was a kid that could walk into a room and just light up the room by the way he walked, by the way he talked or his facial gestures,” said Kyle’s mom, Yvonne Nelson. “Kyle knew from the time he could walk and talk he wanted to take over the family farm.”

Kyle’s dream of taking over the family farm never happened.

On November 13, 2014, Yvonne was on call for the Lidgerwood Ambulance Service when she received a call at 9 p.m. regarding a vehicle crash. When she arrived on scene, she could not see the victim, but her maternal instincts took over.

I start running toward the pickup, and I can see a hand. It’s a mom thing.”

A fireman confirmed Yvonne’s biggest fear. The victim of the crash was her son, Kyle. He was not wearing his seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle.

Kyle was only going a mile and a half down the road. On a gravel road, not even a highway speed road and he didn’t have a seat belt on,” said Kyle’s brother, Corey Nelson. “The velocity of the crash threw him out, pick up landed on top of him and now we live with it every day.”

The crash impacted Kyle’s family and the farm. Kyle’s dad, Jerry, sold all the cattle and land that was eight miles from the farm. He explains:
 
"People have got to think how it impacts the family afterwards."
 
To this day, Kyle’s family struggles with understanding why he didn’t buckle up.

You know, Kyle’s choice not to buckle up affected our family forever. Forever. No parent ever wants to bury their child,” said Yvonne.

It just truly goes to show that whether you’re going two blocks, two miles or 200 miles, you need to buckle up…That’s just how it is.”
 
Buckle up for the ones you love.