Lindsay Cardinal was the mother of three children who were the center of her world. She also was a mother to many in the communities surrounding her Foreston home — the type of person who went the extra mile to care for those in need.
"She loved life and was a kind person to everybody," said her best friend, Stephanie Hurt. "She was a matriarch in every phase of the word."
Cardinal had her children with her on Tuesday evening as she drove west on Hwy. 23 about 6 p.m. As she neared 11th Avenue in Foley, an allegedly drunken driver crossed the centerline and hit her Chevrolet Tahoe head-on. Cardinal died at the scene.
Two of her children, Evelyn, 1, and Wyatt, 4, were injured and taken to St. Cloud Hospital where they were listed in fair condition, a hospital spokeswoman said.
The third child, 5-year-old Lillian, was not hurt, the State Patrol said.
The other driver, who was in a Yukon, suffered serious injuries and was identified as Kevin Couch, 29, of Milaca.
An incident report said that drugs, alcohol or both likely were a factor. A passenger in Couch's vehicle, Nicole Schmidt, 24, of Milaca, was taken to North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale with life-threatening injuries, the patrol said.
Couch's record shows convictions for burglary, fleeing a police officer, drug possession, assault, domestic assault, domestic abuse, violating a no-contact order and two driving-while-intoxicated charges, according to court records. Couch also was taken to North Memorial.
