Norfolk Man Dies In Stanton County Accident

A Norfolk man died in a one-vehicle accident on Thursday night in Stanton County.

According to the Stanton County Sheriff's Office, at about 8 p.m. 71-year-old Merl Thelen was driving westbound on Highway 275 when for unknown reasons the vehicle left the roadway and went down a steep embankment where the vehicle rolled and became airborne landing across a creek about 300 feet off the highway. 

Thelen was extricated from the wreckage by Norfolk Fire and Rescue and was being prepared for a medical helicopter to transport him when he went into cardiac arrest and was taken to FRHS by ambulance.  He was later pronounced deceased at the hospital. 

Seatbelts were not in use and the vehicle was a total loss. The Sheriff’s office was assisted by the Madison County Sheriff’s office and Stanton County Emergency Management.