Son of Iditarod champ Buser seriously injured in car wreck

WASILLA — Nikolai Buser, the oldest son of four-time Iditarod champion Martin Buser and his wife, Kathy Chapoton, was critically injured in a car crash Friday, Jan. 22 in Seattle.

Chapoton posted the following brief update on the family’s Happy Trails Kennel Facebook page on Friday evening:

“Thanks so much for all the support over the Kusko300 controversy.

We seem to have more pressing issues at the moment. Our son Nikolai was in an auto accident in Seattle this morning and is critical condition at Harborview Trauma Center. Martin and I are now in Seattle meeting with lots of incredibly kind and knowledgeable doctors. Nikolai has had the first of many surgeries to come.”

Nikolai Buser, 27, is a 2004 graduate of Wasilla High. The family has one other son, Rohn, 26.

The mention of the Kuskokwim 300 was a reference to the race Martin recently completed in Bethel. The race featured a controversial finish in which Buser was penalized for going off trail and allowing village children to feed his dogs. The musher defended his actions, saying he was lost and that he doesn’t think letting kids feed the dogs is unsafe.

According to news account from KOMO News in Seattle, six people were hurt in Friday’s crash, which happened at around 8:45 a.m. on Westlake Avenue North. Two people were hospitalized.

On Saturday, Chapoton created a caringbridge.org website where people can follow her son’s progress. She said Nikolai’s condition is considered crucial but stable. She said he sustained multiple injuries and had to be extracted from his vehicle before being rushed to the hospital.

“Upon arrival he was assessed to be in dire circumstances due to his internal injuries in his belly and was rushed to the OR where his spleen and a foot of colon was removed,” she wrote.

Chapoton wrote that her son is also dealing with a head injury, several fractured vertebrae, fractured ribs and a broken leg. She said one nurse was monitoring his condition “round the clock” and that several groups of doctors had seen her son. As of Saturday he remained heavily sedated.

“He has moved his fingers and toes during and during the last CT scan he made an attempt to pull the breathing tube out,” she wrote.

Chapoton said the family has been receiving support from many friends and family members and thanked everyone for their prayers.

“Please keep them coming,” she wrote. “We are planning on working hard for the long haul.”

A YouCaring page to help raise money for Buser's recovery has been set up for the family. The website is https://www.youcaring.com/nikolai-buser-509882

To read more about Nikolai Buser’s condition, visit caringbridge.org/visit/nikolaibuser.