Mother, daughter die in Claremont crash, son still in critical condition
CLAREMONT, Minn. (KMSP) - A mother has died after she and her son were severely injured in a crash earlier this month in southern Minnesota. The woman's 8-year-old daughter was pronounced dead at the scene.
The crash happened shortly after 7 a.m. Sept. 7 on Highway 14 in Claremont, Minnesota.
According to the Minnesota State Patrol, a Mercury Milan driven by Rachel Harberts, a first grade teacher at Blooming Prairie Elementary School, was stopped on Highway 14 near 130th Avenue when it was rear-ended by a Hummer. They were on their way to school.
The 8-year-old, Emerson Harberts, was pronounced dead at the scene. Rachel, 43, and her 12-year-old son Jaxon Harberts were taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.They were all wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.
The driver of the Hummer, 24-year-old Tanner Ronald Kruckeberg from Dodge Center, was not injured. He was wearing a seat belt and was not under the influence of alcohol.
According to reports, Kruckeberg said he was putting away his cell phone at the time of the crash.