Crash Kills Goalie For Gustavus' Championship Women’s Hockey Team

GRACE TOWNSHIP, MN — A 19-year-old student-athlete from Gustavus Adolphus College was killed Sunday in a two-car crash in western Minnesota.

Jori Lynn Jones, of Little Canada, played goalie for the women's hockey team that won the NCAA DIII national championship in March.

Before attending Gustavus, Jones played hockey at Roseville High School, the Star Tribune reported.

Four other women were injured in the crash, including three teammates in the same car with Jones. The athletes were driving home from an off-season event in South Dakota.

At about 12:40 p.m., a Chevy Equinox was traveling eastbound on Highway 40 approaching a four-way stop at the intersection of Highway 29 in Chippewa County's Grace Township.

One of the drivers failed to obey a stop sign, State Patrol Sgt. Troy Christianson told the Star Tribune. However, he did not say which vehicle.

The Equinox was being driven by Gianna Kate Gasparini, 19, of Lakeville. Kayla Marie Bluhm, 20, of Chisago City, Lily Kay, 19, Mortenson of Champlin, and Jones were riding in the vehicle.

Meanwhile, a Dodge Caravan traveling Southbound on Highway 29 was also approaching the four-way stop. The vehicles collided in the intersection, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.

Jones and her teammates were transported by helicopter to Montevideo Hospital. Jones died, while the three teammates were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The Dodge Caravan driver — a 28-year-old woman from Benson — was taken to Benson Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

A fundraiser for Jones' family was established on GoFundMe.