Apple Valley Residents Involved In Fatal Wrong-Way Crash On Highway 52

DAKOTA COUNTY, MN — A Woodbury woman died Saturday in a crash on Highway 52 in Hampton. The fatal incident occurred at 12:39 p.m. Road conditions were reportedly dry.

Two Apple Valley residents in a 2016 Ford Escape were traveling south on Highway 52 when the driver noticed a 2002 Subaru Forester heading north in the southbound lanes, according to authorities. The driver of the Escape, John Carl Sparby, 45, attempted to avoid the Forester, but the vehicles collided.

The passenger side of the Escape hit the passenger side of the Forester, according to the Minnesota State Patrol (MSP). Fern Elaine Marty, 77, of Woodbury, died at the scene.

John Carl Sparby suffered a non-life threatening injury and was treated at Regions Hospital. The passenger of the Escape, Jocelyn Renee Kehr Sparby, 32, did not suffer injury in the crash.

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Everyone involved was wearing a seat belt, according to MSP. Southbound Highway 52 was temporarily closed in Hampton Saturday afternoon.

This is the second fatal crash on Highway 52 in Dakota County this month.

Image via Google Streetview