By Sara Quam
A Christmas Day accident north of Luverne left Harvey Kemerling's daughter paralyzed from the hips down.
Lynette Kemerling, 44, Alexandria, is listed in fair condition at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls.
The Minnesota State Highway Patrol described the 11:30 a.m. accident as a rear-end collision.
Drivers were Mark Duane Lafrenz, 19, Luverne, driving a 1992 Oldsmobile; Harland Kemerling, 43, Granite Falls, driving a 1992 Chevy Astro van with his sister, Lynette, and Roger Leonard Erickson, 68, Luverne, driving a 2000 Buick LaSabre.
Lynette, who never lost consciousness, recalled the accident to Harvey. They were on their way home for Christmas when she said Harland slowed down to allow Erickson to make a left turn. That's when they were rear-ended by Lafrenz.
When they were hit, the Kemerlings' bodies were first thrust forward and then backward, the force of their weight breaking the car seats and laying them flat.
"She flew out of the left rear window of the van and it drug her, from what we can tell," Harvey said.
Harland was wearing his seat belt. Lynette was not.
His active daughter knows there's slim to no chance that there'll be a change in her condition, but Harvey said she's being strong.
"She comforted me when I was telling her she would be paralyzed," Harvey said.
Lynette is a Luverne High School graduate. She began attending college for a degree in law enforcement but fell in love with the Alexandria area and kept her job with the Alexandria Extrusion Company.
Harland is back in Granite Falls with minor injuries.
Harvey expects his daughter to be in Sioux Valley for some time and continues to stay with her until about 10 every night.