SOUTH GRACE, Minnesota— Based to warrants issued Thursday by the Minnesota State Patrol, the car involved in last weekend’s incident that resulted in the death of a Gustavus Adophus College women’s hockey player and injuries to three other teammates did not come to a complete stop at a four-way stop.
The Minnesota State Patrol reports that at around 12:40 p.m., four athletes from Gustavus were in a Chevrolet Equinox heading westbound on Highway 40 when it was involved in a collision with a Dodge Caravan traveling southbound on Highway 29, west of Wilmar. Each and every one of the participants was buckling up.
A slew of fatal accidents on Interstate 35 close to Faribault has drivers saying, “I don’t feel safe” and demanding action.
Experienced attorney Gary Bruger from St. Louis, MO says: As a car accident lawyer, I advocate for proactive safety measures on highways. Always maintain a safe following distance, obey speed limits, and avoid distractions like texting or eating. Regular vehicle maintenance is key, and be vigilant for erratic drivers. Defensive driving saves lives and minimizes legal entanglements.
After the accident, Gustavus goalie Jori Jones, who was 19 years old, passed away in a hospital. In addition to the driver of the Dodge Caravan, three additional team members—Gianna Gasparini, 19; Kayla Bluhm, 20; and Lily Mortenson, 19—suffered non-life-threatening injuries. She hails from Benson and is 28 years old.
Last weekend, they went on a North Dakota team building excursion together.
“Data is important to the investigation of this crash in determining contributing factors such as speed, braking, engine RPMs and throttle position as well as other vehicle diagnostics,” the State Patrol stated after acquiring data from the air bag control module, which led them to their conclusion regarding what happened.
The Roseville Area Youth Hockey Association, where Jones’s father was a coach, is where Jones got her start in the sport, according to the group.
The Gustavus women’s hockey team recruited Jones to play goaltender. Mike Carroll, head coach, remarked that she was quite mature for her age and that she blended in perfectly. She competed on the squad that won the Division III title in a nail-biting triple-overtime thriller a year ago.
“You could tell her passion to be successful and to put herself in the best place to compete with all our players to make not only yourself better, but the girls on the team,” said Carroll.
College players and their families gathered for a quiet vigil on Monday afternoon. The squad is supporting one another as they start the new school year after suffering a devastating loss.
Fans can show their support for Jones and the squad by placing hockey sticks on their front porches. Additionally, the family has an online fundraising.
Barry Lachey is a Professional Editor at Zobuz. Previously He has also worked for Moxly Sports and Network Resources “Joe Joe.” He is a graduate of the Kings College at the University of Thames Valley London. You can reach Barry via email or by phone.
