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Elk River teen recovering in hospital
Tracy Tougas said her nephew is still recovering in the ICU.
ELK RIVER, Minn. — An Elk River teenager is improving after he was involved in a car crash that killed two other teenagers.
The crash happened at the intersection of Highway 25 and Pleasant Avenue on July 6. His friends, Tony Krider and Donovan Gobel, were killed.
Tracy Tougas said her nephew, Charles Gabrelcik, was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center to be treated for his injuries.
“He’s doing better than he was initially. He is in surgery right now. They’re working to repair his severely broken neck. He was alert yesterday and doing a little bit of communication, but he’s not currently breathing on his own,” Tougas said.
In a statement, the Galbrelcik family said Charles is still in the ICU with a severely broken neck and a trisected spinal cord. He had surgery on Monday to stabilize his neck.
Tougas said he’s doing as well as he can after surviving a horrific crash.
“It doesn’t appear that he has any brain damage at this time. He’s able to communicate, spell words — that’s one of the ways we’re communicating. He knows who people are when they’re there. He says ‘I love you’ and he asks for hugs,” she said.
Tougas said he’s a sweet and kind teenager, who loves to stay active. He plays football, hockey and baseball.
In a statement, the Galbrecik family said in part, “Our hearts are shattered for him as he lived for sports and hanging out with his friends.”
There has been a GoFundMe set up to assist the family.
Tougas said her nephew appreciates everyone who has to come to visit him in the hospital and the support he’s receiving from the community.
“The continued support and prayers are super helpful. The GoFundMe would help their family as they navigate through,” Tougas said.
Several people have stopped by the memorial to lay flowers, hang cards and place mementos at the crash site.
“Honestly, I didn’t feel like it was real.”
Daniel Yogei came to the memorial to remember Krider and Gobel. He grew up across the street from Krider.
“Tony was an extroverted person. He was loud, loved to be around people, loved to hang out,” Yogei said. “He was always there for me no matter what.”
He said Krider was a great friend, and it was important for him to visit the memorial.
“I know that he’s watching us down here right now, you know, and I just want him to know I do care about him,” he said.
The Elk River football team will host a vigil at Fresno Park at 8:30 p.m. to remember Krider and Gobel and pray for Gabrelcik’s recovery.
Tougas said she is driving from St. Cloud to attend.
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Police said the 7-year-old victim was skateboarding on Saturday night.
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The road closure is expected to last until about 11:30 p.m. tonight, according to MnDOT.
MINNETONKA, Minn. — Officials have closed the westbound lanes of US Highway 12 starting at I-494 in Minnetonka after a collision occurred on Saturday night.
According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s 511 Map, the road is closed and there was a “serious crash,” on the highway.
The road closure is expected to last until about 11:30 p.m. tonight, according to MnDOT.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
“It’s amazing how well and good the people are helping out,” volunteer Connie Guinn said.
ELK PARK, N.C. — It’s still difficult for Mike Ellenburg to see the damage Helene left in Elk Park, North Carolina.
“Never in my lifetime, no I have not,” Ellenburg, Fire Chief at the Elk Park Volunteer Fire Department, said. “We had to bring in heavy equipment and open the road up.”
The storm left homes destroyed, trees toppled and cars flipped. It’s left roads near rivers and creeks nearby unrecognizable.
“Used to be a paved road, houses on both sides,” he said. “They’re gone.”
“You’ll see some vehicles down here that are sideways, and they’ll have spray paint on ’em,” Ellenburg continued. “Marking that that vehicle has been checked and that nobody was inside of it or around it.”
Ellenburg says he believes there are four areas around Elk Park in a similar state, damaged and difficult to get into. Despite that, help is still coming, both from the town and the rest of the state.
“We’re just trying to get it organized,” Connie Guinn, a volunteer said, standing in front of pallets of food and water. “Because we can’t find nothing, and neither can anybody else.”
Donations have continued to arrive at the Elk Park Volunteer Fire Department. Ellenburg says some have even come from around the country.
Other agencies, like the Dallas, North Carolina volunteer fire department, have also arrived to help where they can.
“It’s amazing how well and good the people are helping out,” Guinn said.
Ellenburg says it will take time to rebuild their community, but it’s made easier to get through with neighbors like theirs.
“I would only say that I don’t want to live anywhere else but here in Avery County, North Carolina,” he said.
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