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Crash kills son of Southwest Minnesota State coach

Photo: SMSU Athletics

Jul 30, 2012 at 6:54 am

MARSHALL, MN (AP) - The men's basketball coach at Southwest Minnesota State University is in critical condition after a crash in western Minnesota that killed his 5-month-old son.

The Minnesota State Patrol says the coach, 33-year-old Brad Bigler, is hospitalized in Sioux Falls, S.D. Five-month-old Drake Phillip Bigler was killed, and two other occupants were injured.

SMSU athletic director Chris Hmielewski said Sunday the coach broke several ribs and a shoulder blade.

The State Patrol says the crash occurred in Pope County on Saturday evening. Authorities say a Starbuck man swerved into oncoming traffic and struck the vehicle driven by Bigler's wife. Heather Bigler suffered minor injuries while her 74-year-old grandmother was left in critical condition.

Hmielewski tells the Independent of Marshall (http://bit.ly/LWYDNJ) the school's thoughts and prayers are with the family.