Passing motorist among 3 killed in crash on Minn. hwy.; her 1-year-old among the dead

A motorist passing another vehicle on a rural highway hit a minivan coming the other way east of Redwood Falls in a crash that killed the woman who was passing, her 1-year-old son and another driver, authorities said Sunday.

Neither motorist had on a seat belt at the time of impact early Saturday evening on Hwy. 71 just west of Morton, according to the State Patrol.

Dead at the scene were drivers Teresa L. Linde, 41, of Redwood Falls, and Shaunna M. Kraft, 34, of Lakefield, Minn., according to the patrol. Kraft was heading north on Hwy. 71 in a car, started passing another vehicle and struck Linde's southbound van head-on, the patrol said.

Also killed was a 1-year-old in Kraft's car, Brexlee B. Thammalong.

Two others in Kraft's car suffered life-threatening injuries. The patrol identified them as Khampong Thammalong, 27, of Lakefield, and Ryler L. Ybarra, 7.

State birth records show that Kraft is the mother of both children.

Kraft has a variety of traffic-related offenses in Minnesota, according to state records. She has been convicted three times for driving after her license was revoked, twice for driving without insurance, twice for speeding, once for drunken driving and once for not wearing a seat belt. Her license was valid at the time of this crash, a state Department of Public Safety spokeswoman said Monday.

The adults were in the front seat, and the two children were in the back seat, said Patrol Sgt. Jesse Grabow.

The patrol said it was unknown whether Khampong Thammalong or Brexlee Thammalong were in seat restraints at the time. Ybarra was not in a restraint device.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482