By Jordan Gerard and Jason Schoonover

An Austin man and his son died in a head-on collision on Highway 218 near Blooming Prairie Friday morning.

Karl Erickson, 43, and Elijah Erickson, 9, died after their southbound 1998 black Honda Civic crossed the centerline and crashed into a northbound 2009 silver Chrysler Town and Country van driven by Paul J. Ingvaldson, 79, of Blooming Prairie around 6:46 a.m., according to the Minnesota State Patrol.

Ingvaldson was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester with serious injuries.

Elijah and Ingvaldson were wearing their seat belts, but Karl was not. Airbags were deployed and no alcohol was detected in either driver. Roadways were dry at the time of the crash.

Both vehicles sustained severe damage.

Highway 218 was closed at the site between Highway 30, Southeast 89th Avenue and Southeast 138th Street while the State Patrol investigated the crash. The cause is still under investigation.

The Blooming Prairie Police Department and Steele County Sheriff’s Office assisted at the scene.