KARE-TV anchor Julie Nelson is taking time off the air to recover from injuries sustained in a boating accident that also involved her husband. Nelson announced her leave on Facebook on June 18, stating that she and her husband were treated for non-life-threatening injuries following a "one-boat accident" over the weekend.
"I will be off the air while I take some time to heal and recover," Nelson wrote. "I’m grateful for the outpouring of love and support that’s been shown to me and my family."
The accident occurred on the night of June 13 on Balsam Lake near Pine Island, Wisconsin, according to local news reports. Nelson, 54, has been a co-anchor for KARE-TV’s 5, 6, and 10 p.m. newscasts since joining the station. It is unclear when she is expected to return to the airwaves.
Initially, an article published by the Minnesota Star Tribune on June 22 alleged that Nelson's husband, Kurt Krumenauer, a commercial real estate broker, was suspected of intoxication at the time of the crash. However, the Star Tribune retracted this story less than 24 hours later, citing that the reporting did not meet the newspaper's standards for accuracy, verification, and editorial rigor. The publication issued a subsequent piece explaining the retraction, noting that a quote attributed to a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources records coordinator was incorrectly incorporated and did not originate from the official. The Star Tribune stated the matter remained under review.
Law enforcement officials in Polk County, Wisconsin, have confirmed that both Nelson and Krumenauer were injured in the incident. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has launched an investigation into the accident. A spokesperson for the department declined to comment on ongoing investigations when reached by The Post.