At about 5:15 p.m. on Sunday afternoon the Stanton County Sheriff’s office was notified of a one vehicle injury accident on Hwy 32 about four miles east of the Hwy 81 junction, The accident occurred when an eastbound car driven by Dillon Palen, 26, of Council Bluffs, IA left the roadway at high speed and crossed into the north ditch, where it struck an embankment and became airborne before striking several trees and came to rest supported by a tree. Palen as found by passersby and was helped from the wreckage and was then transported to FRHS in Norfolk by Madison Fire and Rescue with serious injuries. Seatbelts were in use and multiple airbags deployed in the high impact crash that are credited with saving the life of Palen. The vehicle was destroyed in the crash and it took extra effort of a large wrecker to remove the wreckage from being wedged against the trees. Stanton County Emergency Management also assisted the Sheriff’s office at the scene. At about 9:45 p.m. the Sheriff’s office was notified that Palen was being transported to UNMC in Omaha by medical helicopter.
