St. Paul, MN : MN mom killed in crash, 3 children hurt; driver held in DWI on Tuesday, January 31st 2017

A driver suspected of being intoxicated drove his SUV across the centerline of a central Minnesota highway Tuesday evening and smashed into another vehicle, killing a 35-year-old wife and mother, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.

The woman’s three young children, in the vehicle with her, also were injured in the crash. The driver and his passenger in the SUV also suffered life-threatening injuries, according to the State Patrol.

The State Patrol said that a 2004 GMC Yukon driving west on Minnesota 23 in Foley at about 6 p.m. Tuesday by Kevin Gordon Couch, 29, of Milaca, crossed the centerline and hit a 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe driven by Lindsay Marie Cardinal, 35, of Foreston, Minn. Cardinal was killed in the crash.Couch was suspected of being under the influence of drugs, alcohol or both, according to the State Patrol. He was wearing a seat belt but suffered life-threatening injuries in the crash and was taken to North Memorial Medical Center, according to the State Patrol. Charges may be filed against him following an investigation, according to the State Patrol.

According to court records, Couch has a lengthy criminal record that includes convictions for burglary, fleeing a police officer, drug possession, assault, domestic assault, domestic abuse, violating a no-contact order and two driving-while-intoxicated charges.

In more recent arrests in 2016, Couch faces pending charges for driving after revocation, terroristic threats, drug possession, disorderly conduct and property damage.A passenger in the Yukon, Nicole Dawn Schmidt, 24, of Milaca, also suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to the North Memorial Medical Center. An airbag deployed on the Yukon, but Schmidt was not wearing a seat belt, according to the State Patrol.

Cardinal and the three children all were wearing seat belts, according to the state patrol.

A GoFundMe page set up for the family said that Evelyn Jo Cardinal, 1; Wyatt James Cardinal, 4; and Lillian Rose Cardinal, 5, were taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

“Lindsay was a wonderful woman, with a contagious smile,” according to the GoFundMe page. “The Cardinal Family has a long road ahead of them.”

The GoFundMe page had raised nearly $23,000 Wednesday afternoon.

“If you can not afford to donate but want to help, please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you!” the GoFundMe page said.

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MN mom killed in crash, 3 children hurt; driver held in DWI