A Minnesota pastor and his 3-year-old son were killed in a devastating highway accident after a tire broke loose from a trailer traveling in the opposite direction and struck their family’s minivan.
Stephen Clayton, 31, and his son, David, died Monday, October 12, while returning home from a family visit in South Dakota. Clayton’s pregnant wife, Katie, suffered serious injuries, while their 11-month-old son survived with minor injuries.
The tragedy occurred around 2 p.m. on Interstate 90 near Kimball, South Dakota, approximately 100 miles west of Sioux Falls.
According to the South Dakota Department of Public Safety, a 2012 Dodge Ram pickup was towing a livestock trailer westbound when one of the trailer’s wheels suddenly detached.
The loose wheel crossed the grassy median into the eastbound lanes, where it slammed into the Clayton family’s 2015 Honda Odyssey.
The impact shattered the windshield and tore through the roof of the minivan, according to a fundraising page established to help the family.
Stephen, who was driving, and his young son David were fatally injured.
Katie, 24, was airlifted to a hospital in Sioux Falls after suffering severe fractures to her face and jaw. She subsequently underwent reconstructive surgery and faces a lengthy recovery.
The couple’s younger son, John, who was just 11 months old, suffered minor injuries. Katie was also 28 weeks pregnant at the time, and the family fundraiser reported that their unborn baby was unharmed.
The 54-year-old driver of the pickup truck, a resident of Plankinton, South Dakota, was not injured.
Authorities confirmed that everyone involved was wearing a seat belt or appropriate child restraint at the time of the crash.
The family had been traveling home to Monticello, Minnesota, after visiting Katie’s parents in Spearfish, South Dakota.
What should have been an ordinary drive home has left a young mother facing an unimaginable loss while recovering from her own injuries.
Clayton served as a pastor at Becker Evangelical Free Church, where he had been part of the ministry since 2024. Friends and fellow church leaders remembered him as a devoted husband, loving father and thoughtful spiritual leader.
He graduated from Bethlehem Seminary in Minneapolis and previously worked at The North Church in Mounds View, Minnesota.
Pastor Steven Lee, who mentored Clayton and officiated his wedding to Katie in 2022, shared an emotional tribute remembering the young man’s dedication to his family and faith.
Lee recalled that Clayton had once performed in a professional orchestra in Canada, an accomplishment he rarely mentioned because of his humble personality.
He also remembered meeting regularly with Clayton during his early years in ministry and watching him grow into a patient, compassionate pastor.
“We have lost a good man this week,” Lee wrote in a tribute published by Bethlehem College and Seminary.
The loss has deeply affected several Minnesota church communities, where Clayton was admired for his kindness, willingness to learn and commitment to helping others.
A fundraising campaign organized by family friend David Stabley has brought an outpouring of financial support for Katie and her surviving children.
Donations will help cover funeral expenses, medical bills and the family’s ongoing needs as Katie recovers from surgery and prepares to welcome another child.
The support has grown as friends, church members and strangers across the country have learned about the tragedy.
A joint funeral service for Stephen and David is scheduled for Friday, October 23, at The North Church in Mounds View, Minnesota.
Meanwhile, the South Dakota Highway Patrol continues investigating how the trailer wheel became detached and whether any additional factors contributed to the deadly collision.
Authorities have not announced any criminal charges.