Germantown Township, MN (March 21, 2026) – A devastating head-on collision claimed five lives and injured nine others in Cottonwood County. The crash occurred around 4:42 p.m. on Friday, March 20, on U.S. 71 near 240th Street, about six miles north of Jeffers Corner.
Reports indicate that a northbound 2016 GMC Terrain SUV collided with a southbound 2019 Ford Transit van carrying 13 people, including the driver. The SUV driver, 67-year-old Martin Nickolas Hanson of Springfield, and four passengers in the van were killed. The deceased van passengers included Kelly Christine Hargus, 49; Kathleen Ann Johnson, 73; Richard Warren Johnson, 73; and Lindsey Kay Rossow, 47. The Johnsons were husband and wife, while Hargus and Rossow were their daughters.
The van driver, 42-year-old Matthew Arthur Schultz of Lakefield, sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Other passengers suffered a mix of life-threatening and non-life-threatening injuries, with several transported to Windom Area Hospital and Redwood Falls Hospital and one airlifted to Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Alcohol was not involved in the crash.
Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the collision, and more details will be released as they become available.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families affected by this tragedy.
Understanding Head-On Crashes on Rural Highways
Head-on crashes are among the most dangerous types of collisions due to the combined speeds of the vehicles involved. Even moderate-speed impacts can result in severe or fatal injuries, especially for passengers in smaller vehicles or vans.
Rural highways, while often less congested, can be risky due to limited shoulders, high travel speeds, and sometimes narrow lanes. When a vehicle crosses the centerline, the potential for multiple injuries and fatalities rises dramatically.
In these incidents, the number of occupants, seating positions, and use of safety restraints can influence outcomes. Emergency response often involves multiple agencies to manage traffic, treat the injured, and clear the scene safely.
Road conditions, visibility, and vehicle size also play a role in the severity of such crashes, even when alcohol or drugs are not a factor.
