LAKE ELMO, Minn. — A 5-year-old girl died after she was involved in a car crash with her family in Lake Elmo Saturday.
The Minnesota State Patrol reported that 5-year-old Morgan Peterson was in a Ford Focus with her 43-year-old father Christopher Peterson and 10-year-old brother Mason Peterson around 9 p.m. when the vehicle stalled in the left lane of traffic on eastbound Highway 36 at Lake Elmo Ave. Troopers say a Nissan Pathfinder then crashed into the back of the Ford at "highway speeds."
Christopher says he suffered a concussion and mild head injury and he can't remember much of what happened that night due to temporary amnesia.
"Part of me hopes it comes back to me, but another part of me doesn’t. I lost a life that I feel like is worth so much more than mine. She’s five years old and she never got to experience life," Christopher said.
Mason also suffered non-life threatening injuries. Family members say Morgan died from a broken neck and brain injuries. The State Patrol website confirms the child did not survive the crash.
"She was always just full of energy and love. She was just so outgoing. She had a lot of love to give and it’s more than unfortunate that she doesn’t get to now," mother Lauren Lambert said.
Organizers say the GoFundMe is set up to give Morgan a proper funeral, as well as pay for medical bills and support time off for her parents to grieve. The family is from St. Paul. By Monday evening, the campaign raised nearly $18,000 of their $25,000 goal.
The driver of the Nissan, age 47 of St. Paul, suffered non-life-threatening injuries. All four people involved in the crash were taken to Regions Hospital for treatment.
The State Patrol reported that it is unknown at this time if alcohol was involved in the incident.
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