Three dead, two in serious condition after Ham Lake crash
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The Anoka County Sheriff’s Office reports three individuals — an infant, a toddler, and an adult male — are dead following a crash in Ham Lake Sunday afternoon. Two others are in serious condition.
The Anoka County sheriff says the driver of the SUV, 28-year-old Lee Vang was killed along with his 3-year-old daughter Astrid Lee and 6-month-old son Levi Lee.
His wife, Rhodia Xiong and 7-year-old daughter Kyria Lee survived the crash and are both hospitalized.
Just after 3:00 p.m. the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office responded to the two-vehicle crash near Bunker Lake Boulevard NE and Butternut Street NW. According to a press release from the sheriff’s office, the family’s SUV was traveling westbound on Bunker Lake Boulevard NE when it crossed the median and crashed head-on into a pickup truck towing a trailer.
When emergency responders arrived at the scene, Vang and Astrid were declared dead. Levi was transported via helicopter to a local hospital and later declared dead. The third child and mother were taken to a local hospital in critical condition.
(Left to right: Levi Lee, Kyria Lee, Astrid Lee, Rhodia Xiong, Lee Vang / photos courtesy of family)
The victim’s family says they had just picked up the baby from a relative’s home after spending the day with the other kids at the State Fair. The victim’s family says they are leaning on their large family to support one another, including the mother and daughter who survived the crash.
Vang’s sister told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that Vang was a “devoted husband and father to his wife and children.” She also described him as “soft-spoken” and someone who never hesitated to help his neighbors and others when in need.”
Shirely Lefebvre lives down the street from the family in their Andover neighborhood.
“I was like, oh my god, because they are a sweet family — they’ve only been here a year — very nice,” Lefebvre commented on the tragedy. “A very, very nice young family. I just can’t believe they are gone — I can’t believe it”.
Neighbors say they are here for the survivors as well.
“To help them, whether it’s financially, emotionally, we’ll be there for each other.”
The two adult males in the pickup truck suffered minor injuries.
This incident is under investigation.
A GoFundMe has been started for the family.