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Mother Of Four Killed In Lakeville Car Accident

LAKEVILLE, Minn. (WCCO) -- Four young Richfield girls are without their mother after she was killed in a deadly car crash in the south metro.

It happened late Sunday afternoon at the intersection of Dakota County Road 46 and Granada Avenue in Lakeville.

Clint and Sara Ward were heading west along the county road, attempting to turn south into the Lakeville Crossings shopping center. Tragically, they drove right into the path of an oncoming SUV whose driver was heading eastbound.

The couple's Chevrolet Malibu was struck broadside on the passenger side, killing Sara instantly.

"At the current time we are not assigning fault for the crash, but we are looking at it from the eastbound vehicle did have the right-of-way," said Lakeville Deputy Police Chief John Kornmann. "The turning vehicle, if you look at state law, would be required to yield."

Clint Ward, 34, is a popular Twin Cities disc jockey. He remains hospitalized at Hennepin County Medical Center in critical but stable condition. The tragedy has left relatives to care for the couple's four young girls. Family members were too distraught to speak about the loss or the life of the young mother.

"We can see the car seats in that vehicle, we know what's going on there. We see the toys and the children's toys," said Kornmann.

Sara Ward worked at the Rainforest Cafe at the Mall of America. Suddenly, a Sunday afternoon outing has devastated a young family.

"This is someone's mother, someone's daughter, someone's family member -- that's always first and foremost on our mind," Kornmann said.

Police say the investigation is ongoing and that they are checking for speeds of the vehicles along with toxicology. The posted speed near the accident scene is 50 mph.

However, at this point in the investigation it simply appears to be an unfortunate and tragic accident.

Friends have set up a GoFundMe page to provide whatever help they can to the family. If you are interested in supporting the family, click here.

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