MONTICELLO, MN — A Minnesota family is facing an unimaginable tragedy after a freak accident along Interstate 90 in South Dakota claimed the lives of a Monticello pastor and his 3-year-old son, leaving his pregnant wife hospitalized with serious injuries and their 11-month-old baby recovering from minor injuries. Stephen Fletcher Clayton, 31, of Monticello, and his young son lost their lives on October 12, 2026, when a detached trailer wheel crossed the interstate median and struck the family’s vehicle. According to the South Dakota Highway Patrol, the crash occurred around 2 p.m. near mile marker 292 on Interstate 90. The Clayton family was traveling eastbound in a Honda Odyssey when a wheel detached from a stock trailer being pulled by a vehicle traveling westbound. The wheel crossed the grassy median and struck the family’s minivan with devastating force. According to a fundraiser established to support the family, the wheel shattered the windshield and tore through the roof of the vehicle. Stephen and his 3-year-old son suffered fatal injuries. PREGNANT MOTHER AIRLIFTED TO HOSPITAL WITH SEVERE INJURIES Stephen’s wife, 24-year-old Katie Jayne Clayton, survived the crash but sustained serious injuries. According to the family fundraiser, Katie was airlifted to a hospital in Sioux Falls, where she underwent reconstructive surgery to address multiple fractures involving her jaw and face. The couple’s 11-month-old baby was also injured but reportedly sustained only minor injuries. The fundraiser also confirmed that Katie is pregnant and that her unborn baby was not harmed in the crash. South Dakota Highway Patrol officials confirmed that the occupants were properly restrained at the time of the collision. A FAMILY FOREVER CHANGED IN AN INSTANT What began as a drive along Interstate 90 ended in an unimaginable loss for a young Minnesota family. Stephen, a pastor from Monticello, leaves behind his wife, their surviving infant, and an unborn child who will never have the opportunity to meet their father. Katie now faces an incredibly difficult road ahead as she recovers from significant physical injuries while grieving the loss of her husband and young son. The family’s tragedy has prompted an outpouring of concern and support as loved ones and community members rally around Katie and her children. A fundraiser has been organized to help support the family during this devastating time. FUNERAL SERVICES PLANNED IN MINNESOTA Funeral services for Stephen Clayton and his 3-year-old son are reportedly scheduled for Friday in Mounds View, Minnesota. As family and friends prepare to say their final goodbyes, the community continues to offer support to Katie and her surviving children. Two lives were lost in a matter of moments, leaving a wife without her husband, a mother without her little boy, and a family facing a future they never could have imagined. Our thoughts are with Katie Clayton, her children, and everyone mourning the loss of Stephen and his son. Minnesota Now | Monticello, Minnesota