Five people were killed at about 4:42 p.m. on Friday in Germantown Township, Cottonwood County, when a GMC Terrain SUV collided with a 2019 Ford Transit Van carrying 13 people.
According to the Minnesota State Patrol, the victims in the van who suffered fatal injuries were identified as Kathleen Johnson, 73, Richard Johnson, 73, Kelly Hargus, 49, and Lindsey Rossow, 47, as well as 67-year-old Martin Hanson of Springfield, the driver of the SUV.
The SUV was traveling northbound on Highway 71, and the Ford Transit Van was southbound on Highway 71, State Patrol said. The vehicles collided head-on near 240th Street.
Nine others were injured in what is being called the deadliest crash in Minnesota since 2023 when five women were killed in a crash. Two of them — Kassandra Ambrose, 44, of Jackson, and Eric Rossow, 54, of Lakefield — suffered life-threatening injuries. Others in the van injured were Kathleen Rossow, 25, of Lakefield, Karlee Rossow, 23, of Lakefield, Brett Rossow, 20, of Jackson, Kristin Hanson, 44, of Jackson, Andria Benson, 20, of Jackson, Nolan Ambrose, 19, of Jackson, and driver Matthew Schultz, 42, of Lakefield.
Alcohol was not suspected to be a factor in the crash.
Assisting the State Patrol on the scene were the Cottonwood and Redwood sheriff’s offices, Sanborn Fire, Windom, Lamberton, Westbrook, and Springfield Ambulance and North Aircare.
