Father, Son Injured In Wreck At Cub Scout Event

Highway Patrol officials said the incident occurred about 8:30 a.m. Saturday at the Highway Patrol training facility in Raleigh off Tryon Road, where 1,300 people are projected to attend the Jamboree this weekend.

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Father, Son Injured In Wreck At Cub Scout Event

Witnesses said Mark Nelson, 46, from Cary, clutched his chest as he drove past the registration table. At that point, his minivan sped off several hundred yards down a hill, through a parking lot and into a deep ravine. Investigators said the vehicle reached speeds of at least 55 mph before it crashed.

Both Nelson and his 7-year-old son, Connor, were taken to WakeMed, where they were listed in critical condition early Saturday afternoon. No one else was injured.

The wreck happened about a half hour before the Cub Scouts started gathering in the lot. Fort Bragg soldiers were at the Jamboree for a display, and were the first to respond to the wreck. Highway Patrol troopers who were at the training facility were also able to get there quickly for first-aid.

"Really, someone was looking out for us this morning," said Highway Patrol Lt. Everett Clendenin. "I mean, it is a very unfortunate incident. Our hopes are these two people are OK, but it could've been a lot worse."

The jamboree went on Saturday, but many thoughts were at the hospital, as Scouting leaders led prayers for the injured pair.

Highway Patrol investigators said an unknown medical condition might have caused Mark Nelson to lose control of his car. The accident remains under investigation.