State Patrol Identifies Victims of Fatal Crash That Killed 5 Minnesotans

Sanborn, MN (MinnesotaNow)- The State Patrol has identified the five Minnesotans who lost their lives in a southern Minnesota crash. 

See Also: Three Children and Adult Killed in White Bear Lake House Fire 

A total of 14 people were involved in the tragic two-vehicle collision. 13 were riding one of the vehicles, described as a transit van.

The driver was the lone occupant of the other vehicle, which was an SUV. 

Five Killed, 9 Injured in Apparent Head-on Crash in Cottonwood County, MN

The state crash report says the transit van was heading south on Hwy. 71 and the SUV was northbound on the two lane highway when the vehicles collided at 240th St. 

The deadly crash occurred shortly before 4:45 p.m. Friday in Cottonwood County, about 65 miles west of Mankato. 

Names of Deceased Released

On Saturday the State Patrol identified the five killed in the crash as: 

67-year-old Martin Nickolas Hanson of Springfield 

49-year-old Kelly Christine Hargus of Jackson 

73-year-old Kathleen Ann Johnson of Jackson 

73-year-old Richard Warren Johnson of Jackson 

47-year-old Lindsey Kay Rossow of Lakefield

Hanson was identified as the driver of the pickup the rest of the deceased were riding in the transit van. 

Hanson and Rossow were pronounced dead at the scene. The three others were pronounced dead at a hospital in Windom, according to the State Patrol. 

Two Passengers Suffer Life-Threatening Injuries

Two other passengers in the van, identified as 44-year-old Kassandra Lynn Ambrose of Jackson and 54-year-old Eric Charles Rossow of Lakefield suffered life-threatening injuries. 

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The State Patrol says Rossow was flown to a Sioux Falls hospital and Ambrose was brought to a hospital in Redwood Falls. 

Van Driver & Other Surviving Passengers Hospitalized

The van driver, identified as 42-year-old Matthew Arthur Schultz of Lakefield and six remaining transit van passengers suffered non-life-threatening injuries. 

The State Patrol identified those passengers as 19-year-old Nolan Eric Ambrose, 20-year-old Andria Elizabeth Benson, 44-year-old Kristin Kathleen Hanson, 20-year-old Brett Eric Rossow, all from Jackson, 23-year-old Karlee Kristine Rossow and 25-year-old Keylee Kathleen Rossow, both from Lakefield. 

They were all brought to hospitals in the area of the crash scene for additional care, according to the State Patrol. 

Alcohol was not involved in the deadly crash and the state crash report also indicates the transit van did not have seatbelts. Hwy. 71 was dry at the time of the tragic crash and the report does not say which vehicle entered the oncoming lane.