Lonsdale man dies in I-35 accident
A man from Lonsdale died in a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 35 in Northfield on February 7.
Matt Kling, 44, was driving a Chevrolet Cruze northbound on the interstate. A Chevrolet Silverado pulling a camper, driven by Noah Finch, 19, of Farmington, was heading southbound on 35, and lost control and veered into the northbound lanes, blocking the road.
According to the State Highway Patrol, Kling’s car struck the rear of the camper, and he was killed in the collision.
A third car, a Ford Focus was also northbound and struck the camper, coming to rest against the guard rail. That driver, Alex Degezelle, 27, of Owatonna, did not sustain any injuries.
All of the vehicle’s drivers were reported as wearing their seatbelts, however the airbag in Kling’s 2013 Chevrolet Cruze did not deploy.
The crash occurred after 5 a.m. Wednesday, between the Hwy. 19 exit and entrance ramps. The highway patrol reported that roads at the time were coated with snow overnight, as well as some ice.
Lonsdale Fire, Northfield Ambulance and MnDOT assisted on the scene.
A GoFundMe page has been set up by a community member to support Kling’s family. The campaign had raised more than $20,000 of its goal of $25,000 by Thursday, Feb. 8.
“He was one of the best dads around. He was fun to watch with his girls, he was wrapped around their little fingers,” someone wrote on the page.
