Christmas Eve crash south of Willmar, Minn., leaves Redwood Falls man dead

BLOMKEST -- A 29-year-old Redwood Falls man died and six others were injured Saturday in a multi-vehicle crash at the intersection of U.S. Highway 71 and Minnesota Highway 7, about 10 miles south of Willmar.

According to the Minnesota State Patrol, a juvenile driver in an SUV apparently ran a red light.

The victim has been identified as Justin Gustafson, 29, of Redwood Falls.

The crash occurred when a 2011 Ford Escape XLT driven by a minor was heading eastbound on Highway 7 and failed to stop for the signal light. It struck a 2011 Ford SRW Super Duty pickup truck driven by Lyle Jahnke, 71, of Olivia, which rolled into a 2001 Lincoln Town Car driven by John Gustafson, 50, of Redwood Falls, and a 2004 Volkswagen Beetle GL driven by David Castillo, 45, of Olivia.

John Gustafson was listed in critical condition Sunday at St. Cloud Hospital. Another passenger in his vehicle, Patricia Gustafson, 59, was transported to Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar with non-life threatening injuries. Jahnke and his passenger, Carol Jahnke, 71, were both transported to Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar with non-life threatening injuries. Two passengers in the 2011 Ford Escape XLT, Lisa Sharp, 44, and her daughter, Julie Sharp, 11, both of Milbank, S.D., were also transported to Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar with non-life threatening injuries.

Castillo and his passengers, Theresa Castillo, 47, and Jaime Hegg, 34, of Arlington Heights, Ill., suffered no apparent injuries.

The Minnesota State Patrol, Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Office, Willmar Ambulance and Blomkest Fire Department responded to the scene. No further information was available at press time.