By BEN KLEINE

Staff writer

Marion High School graduate and son of City Administrator Doug Kjellin, Erik Kjellin, was injured in a skateboarding accident on April 6 near Manhattan. Erik Kjellin was transported via ambulance to Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln, Neb.

According to an email from Doug Kjellin to the Marion Chamber of Commerce, Erik was riding a longboard with friends around Tuttle Creek Reservoir. Doug Kjellin said Monday that this is a common activity for Erik and his friends.

He fell off the board and hit his head while trying to take pictures of one of his friends.

He suffered two hairline skull fractures, a sub-Dural bleed on the left front lobe of the brain, and some swelling and pressure in the skull, and two areas of bruising of the brain.

He was originally transported to a Manhattan emergency room before being transferred to Stormont-Vail in Topeka.

The email also stated that Erik would likely suffer short-term memory loss, short attention span, and disorientation because of the injury.

He has been able to stand and walk unassisted, but is also experiencing double vision, intolerance to light and sound and was still receiving nourishment through an IV on Friday.

Doug Kjellin said Erik had a good day on Monday. He said a good day entailed that Erik knew what year it was and the light sensitivity and headaches were not as severe.

Doug Kjellin wrote that the average admittance at Madonna is 32 days. He said he would learn in the next week what the timetable looks like for Erik.

Erik was studying to be a lineman at Manhattan Technical College. He was scheduled to graduate from the program this spring, following an internship.