MOUNDS VIEW, MN — Funeral services are scheduled Friday for a Minnesota pastor and his 3-year-old son after a deadly crash in South Dakota earlier this month. Stephen Clayton, 31, of Monticello, and his son, David, died Oct. 12 when a wheel came loose from a trailer on Interstate 90 near Kimball and struck their minivan.
Clayton’s pregnant wife survived the crash with life-threatening injuries. The couple’s 11-month-old son was also in the vehicle and was treated for minor injuries, according to the account of the collision shared by family and local reporting.
Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Friday, followed by an 11 a.m. funeral at The North Church in Mounds View.
How the Interstate 90 crash happened near Kimball
The fatal collision took place on Interstate 90 near Kimball, South Dakota, when a wheel detached from a trailer and crossed the highway median. It then hit the Claytons’ minivan, setting off the crash that killed Stephen Clayton and his young son.
The details point to a freak accident rather than a typical highway collision. A single mechanical failure, the wheel separating from the trailer, caused the chain of events that ended in the deaths and serious injuries.
Authorities have not described any other vehicles being involved in the crash. The family’s minivan was struck after the wheel crossed from the opposite side of the roadway, leaving the victims with little chance to react.
Remembering Stephen Clayton and his work at Becker Evangelical Free Church
Clayton had served as pastor of Becker Evangelical Free Church since 2024. His role there tied him closely to the church community in central Minnesota, where he ministered until the crash took his life.
The announcement of his death comes as congregations and friends prepare to gather for the funeral in Mounds View. His age, his family responsibilities, and his position as a young pastor have added to the sense of loss around the case.
His death leaves the church and his family facing the aftermath of a tragedy that cut short both his ministry and his life as a husband and father.
His pregnant wife remains hospitalized after life-threatening injuries
Clayton’s wife was badly hurt in the crash and is still recovering from life-threatening injuries. She was also pregnant at the time of the collision, making the family’s situation especially difficult in the days after the accident.
The couple’s 11-month-old son was hurt as well, though the injuries were described as minor. The youngest child survived the crash, but the family’s losses and medical needs remain severe.
Those details underscore how quickly a highway incident can devastate an entire household. In this case, one child died, one parent died, and the surviving family members were left with serious physical and emotional consequences.
Friday's visitation and funeral will bring mourners to The North Church
Friends, relatives, and church members are expected to gather Friday at The North Church in Mounds View to honor Clayton and his son. Visitation begins at 10 a.m., and the funeral service starts at 11 a.m.
The timing gives the community a chance to come together less than two weeks after the crash. For many attending, the service will likely serve as both a memorial and a moment of support for the surviving family.
Funeral arrangements provide a public place to grieve for a pastor whose ministry reached beyond his immediate family. They also mark the formal farewell to a father and child whose deaths have shaken those who knew them.
A crash that has left a Minnesota community grieving
The deaths of Stephen Clayton and his son add to the anguish of a family that was struck by sudden tragedy on an interstate miles from home. What began as a routine drive ended with a detached wheel, a violent impact, and a loss that will be felt for years.
For the Monticello and Becker-area communities, the crash is a reminder of how quickly a normal day can turn catastrophic. Clayton’s work as a pastor and his role as a father have become central to how people are remembering him now.
As the funeral approaches, the focus remains on the family’s recovery, the care of the surviving child, and the gathering of mourners who will honor both lives lost.