Gustavus women's hockey player Jori Jones killed, 3 players injured in western Minnesota crash

BY KIRSTEN MITCHELL, WCCO STAFF

AUGUST 21, 2023 / 12:15 PM / CBS MINNESOTA

GRACE TOWNSHIP, Minn. -- Four members of the Gustavus Adolphus College women's hockey team were involved in a crash in western Minnesota Sunday afternoon.

The four Gustavus athletes were traveling eastbound on Highway 40 in a Chevrolet Equinox when they collided with a Dodge Caravan being driven southbound on Highway 29 west of Wilmar at about 12:40 p.m., according to the Minnesota State Patrol. Everyone involved was wearing a seat belt.

Gustavus goaltender Jori Jones, 19, died at a hospital following the crash. Three other members of the team -- Gianna Gasparini, 19; Kayla Bluhm, 20; and Lily Mortenson, 19 -- suffered injuries that were not life-threatening, as did the driver of the Dodge Caravan. She is a 28-year-old woman from Benson. ... "She was just the kindest person. Like, I can't even put into words how much she lighted up all of our lives," said Lily Mortenson.

Mortenson remembers her friend for her kindness and infectious smile. They were together this weekend for a team bonding trip in North Dakota.

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