Basic Facts
Crash date: March 20, 2026
Crash location: U.S. Highway 71 near 240th Street in Cottonwood County, MN
People involved:
- Richard Warren Johnson, 73
- Kathleen Ann Johnson, 73
- Kelly Christine Hargus, 49
- Lindsey Kay Rossow, 47
- Eric Charles Rossow, 54
- Kassandra Lynn Ambrose, 44
- Kristin Kathleen Hansen, 44
- Matt Schultz, 42
- Nolan Eric Ambrose, 19
- Andria Elizabeth Benson, 20
- Brett Eric Rossow, 20
- Karlee Kristine Rossow, 23
- Keylee Kathleen Rossow, 25
- Martin Nickolas Hanson, 67
Do authorities suspect alcohol played a role in this crash? Unknown
Did authorities recommend criminal charges? Unknown
Do authorities suspect a product defect caused the crash? Unknown
Accident Report
Cottonwood County, MN — March 20, 2026, Richard Johnson, Kathleen Johnson, Kelly Hargus, Lindsay Rossow and Martin Hanson were killed and eight other people were injured in a party bus accident at about 4:40 p.m. on U.S. Highway 71.
Authorities said a transit van taking 12 family members to a birthday party was heading south when it collided with a northbound GMC Terrain at the top of a hill near 240th Street.
Four people in the van — Ricard Warren Johnson and Kathleen Ann Johnson, both 73, and two of their daughters, 49-year-old Kelly Christine Hargus and 47-year-old Lindsay Kay Rossow — died in the crash south of Sanborn, as did SUV driver Martin Nickolas Hanson, 67, of Springfield, according to authorities.
Two more of the Johnsons’ daughters, twins Kassandra Ambrose and Kristin Hansen, were among eight people on the so-called party bus to be injured in the crash, according to news reports. Kassandra Ambrose and her brother-in-law, 54-year-old Eric Rossow, suffered life-threatening injuries, while the rest, including driver Matt Schultz, had less serious injuries.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Cottonwood County crash at this time.
How Did This Accident Occur?
At this point, it seems like authorities have not had time to do anything but document the scene and the people involved in this crash. The ongoing investigation is necessary to figure out how this crash happened.
Did one vehicle stray into the wrong lane? Was one driver distracted, possibly by a cell phone? Did one of these vehicles have a mechanical issue that contributed to the crash?
We don’t have answers to these questions right now, but those affected by this crash deserve to have them so they can understand what happened on U.S. 71. If authorities cannot provide the answers these families need, then perhaps an independent investigation will be necessary.
Did you witness this crash? Tell us what you saw in the comments.
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