Two-vehicle Friday afternoon crash results in multiple fatalities

Five people have been identified as dead and two others sustained life-threatening injuries as the result a two-vehicle crash Friday afternoon in Cottonwood County.

According to the Minnesota State Patrol, a 2016 GMC Terrain SUV operated by Martin Nickolas Hanson, 67, of Springfield was northbound on U.S. 71, and a 2019 Ford Transit Van operated by a 42-year-old Lakefield man who had yet to be identified as of early Saturday evening was southbound when the vehicles collided head-on near 240th Street. The crash was reported at 4:46 p.m. Friday.

Hanson, who was alone in the GMC, died at the scene of the crash. There were 13 people in the Transit Van. Among them were Kelly Christine Hargus, 49, Richard Warren Johnson, 73, and Kathleen Ann Johnson, 73, all of Jackson, who were all transported to Windom Area Health and died as a result of their injuries. Lindsey Kay Rossow, 47, of Lakefield, also reportedly died at the scene.

Sustaining life-threatening injuries in the crash were: Kassandra Lynn Ambrose, 44, of Jackson, was transported to CentraCare-Redwood Hospital; and Eric Charles Rossow, 54, of Lakefield, who was flown to Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls.

Individuals listed as having non-life-threatening injuries were Nolan Eric Ambrose, 19, of and Kristin Kathleen Hanson, both of Jackson, who were taken to CentraCare-Redwood Hospital; Andria Elizabeth Benson, 20, of Jackson, who was taken to Sanford Jackson Medical Center; and Brett Eric Rossow, 20, of Jackson, and Karlee Kristine Rossow, 23, and Keylee Kathleen Rossow, 25, both of Lakefield, who were all transported to Windom Area Health. 

The Cottonwood and Redwood County Sheriff's Offices, Sanborn Fire Department and ambulance services from Windom, Lamberton, Westbrook, Springfield Ambulance — as well as North Aircare-- all assisted at the scene.