Teen Passenger Among Victims in Deadly Southwestern MN Crash

Granite Falls, MN (MinnesotaNow) - A teenage boy was among the two people killed in a head-on collision Friday morning on a snow-covered and slick highway in southwestern Minnesota.

The State Patrol says the deadly crash was reported around 8 a.m. on Highway 274, about 10 miles south of Granite Falls. It involved a car that was traveling south when the driver lost control and slid into the path of a northbound SUV.

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Both occupants of the car suffered fatal injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver was identified as 41-year-old Jean Hodgman, and her passenger was 14-year-old Jonathan Ramos. The State Patrol says both victims were from the small town of Echo, which is located about seven miles southeast of the location of the tragic incident.\

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The State Patrol crash report indicates neither of the victims was wearing a seatbelt. The driver of the SUV, 44-year-old Stacy Timm of Montevideo, was wearing a seatbelt and was transported to the hospital in Granite Falls to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

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These Common Household Items Are Now Banned In Minnesota

A hot topic lately is PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as "forever chemicals" because they are difficult for humans to detoxify and have half-lives measured in years. These chemicals accumulate in the body over time and can cause significant health issues even at low exposure levels

PFAS are commonly found in the environment and the human body and have been linked to a range of health concerns including increased cholesterol levels, potential disruption of hormone systems, reduced immune function, increased risk of certain cancers, developmental issues in children, and reproductive problems, particularly in pregnant women.

On January 1, 2024, Minnesota prohibited PFAS in firefighting foam and food packaging. The state is taking an even more aggressive stance against the chemicals in 2025.

According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the first prohibitions of products containing intentionally added PFAS under Amara's Law (Minn. Stat. § 116.943) are now in effect in Minnesota, meaning you can no longer legally purchase these items.

If you're wondering if you already have products with intentionally added PFAS, you can take the following steps to be sure:

Check the label - Look for products that are labeled as PFAS-free.
Check for keywords - Look for words like "waterproof," "stain-repellent," or "dirt-repellant" on the tag.
Check for ingredients - Avoid products that contain ingredients with "perfluoro" or "fluoro" in their name.
Use a third-party verification service - Some organizations offer third-party verification of products that claim to be made without PFAS.

As of January 1, 2025, you can no longer purchase products with intentionally added PFAS in Minnesota. These products fall under the 11 categories below.

Gallery Credit: David Drew

Filed Under: fatal crash, Minnesota State Patrol

Categories: Local News