Overview
- The collision occurred around 4:42–4:45 p.m. Friday near Highway 71 and 240th Street in Germantown Township, when a northbound GMC Terrain and a southbound Ford Transit van carrying 13 people crashed head-on.
- Authorities identified those who died as Martin Nickolas Hanson, 67, of Springfield, along with van passengers Richard and Kathleen Johnson, both 73, Kelly Christine Hargus, 49, and Lindsey Kay Rossow, 47.
- Four of the victims were members of the same family from Jackson and Lakefield, according to relatives, who said the group had gathered to celebrate Richard Johnson’s birthday.
- Eight people from the van were injured, including two with life-threatening injuries; patients were taken to regional hospitals and at least one critically injured person was flown to Sanford Health in Sioux Falls.
- The identity and condition of the 42-year-old van driver have not been released as the Minnesota State Patrol continues its investigation.