On Sunday evening, November 7th, Nelson and his wife, Euna, were driving in a car east of Uniontown on Hwy. 54.
They struck a cow in the road.
“Nelson sustained minor injuries, however, Euna wasn’t as lucky,” Bourbon County Sheriff’s Deputy Trey Sharp said. “She was life-flighted to Kansas University Medical Center and has been there since the night of the accident. Nelson has been by her side throughout this whole time. We were told it may be up to a year before we will know the significance of her brain injury.”
“Nelson started his career with the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office and is currently working for the Linn County Sheriff’s Office,” Sheriff Bill Martin said. “Nelson has assisted the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office since he has been with Linn County. Deputies and support staff with the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office still consider Nelson as part of the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office family.”
The sheriff’s department has organized a benefit event to help defray the costs of the catastrophic accident to the Blythe family.
“Nelson and Euna have medical insurance, but we all know insurance will not always cover all medical bills,” Sharp said. “We also have to think about their everyday life and how they are going to pay their normal bills that come with life. Nelson has been off work since the night of the wreck, which creates financial stress. This event is simply to raise money for them to hopefully relieve some of the financial stress and so they can focus on helping Euna recover and come back home.”
The fundraising event is Friday, December 17th, 2021 from 6 pm – 11 pm at The Liberty Theater, downtown Fort Scott.
Following the event, either Nelson or a family member will be provided a check of the money that has been raised, Sharp said.
“Up to this point, we have had multiple different items donated to us and we are still gathering items as we speak,” Sharp said. “Organizing this event just shows us how a community will truly gather together to help someone in need. We have had people reach out to us who do not know us or Nelson, they just want to help. Some of the items we have are guns, grills, fire pits, certificates to different area businesses, sports memorabilia, and multiple different items. If you look at our Facebook page ‘Blythe Family Benefit’ it will show you every item we have had donated. We update the page daily.”
“I would like to give a huge shout-out and thank you to Fort Scott Munitions,” Sharp said. “They have donated an extremely rare gun that has raised a tremendous amount of money so far. That gun is on an online raffle on their website. The link is also on our Facebook page as well.”
Latest News On Euna
“Euna has …been moved to a KU Med rehab center where she has made extreme strides throughout this recovery process,” Sharp said. “She still has a long road ahead of her. But the process she has made is nothing but a miracle. I had recently Facetimed her and Nelson. Euna was able to talk to me, she is sitting up, and is even walking with assistance.”