A Wednesday afternoon crash in St. George killed a pair of elderly sisters and injured a Utah Highway Patrol trooper who was on his way to a multiple-car collision on Interstate 15.

The crash involving the trooper killed Karen Gummow, 71, and her sister, Ila Jean Moore, 75. The bishop at Morningside 7th LDS Ward, Robert Crowley, said the women were on their way to a Relief Society meeting there.

"They were very nice ladies," Crowley said. "They helped each other and took care of each other."

The crash occurred about 12:50 p.m. near 850 South and River Road when UHP Trooper Lars Gardener was traveling north on River Road on his way to the fatal crash on I-15. Gummow was driving south in her Buick and was attempting to turn left into the LDS Church ward house parking lot when her car was struck, St. George police said.

The collision was about 50 to 75 yards north of 900 South and not in an intersection, St. George police Lt. James Van Fleet said. The street was dry at the time and weather conditions did not appear to cause the crash.

"They were very good sisters," said the women's older brother Garn Huskinson.

Gummow was the mother of eight children. She was a seamstress and enjoyed bowling, quilting and needle point, Huskinson said.

Gummow and Moore lived together about five blocks from the ward house. Gummow took care of Moore, who suffered from diabetes, Huskinson said. When she couldn't play sports, Moore liked watching them on television. She also enjoyed skiing "until she broke her leg" years ago, Huskinson said.

Moore also served a mission for the LDS Church in Australia.

Gardener, a three year veteran of the force, was taken to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George with non-life-threatening injuries, Van Fleet said.

Gardener suffered neck pain, bruising and scrapes and was released later in the afternoon from the hospital, UHP Sgt. Jeff Nigbur said.

"Trooper Gardener is very shaken up by what has happened and is going through a very difficult time," Nigbur said in a press release issued Wednesday night.

The St. George police accident investigation team was leading the investigation to try to reconstruct how the collision occurred. Investigators from the Washington County Sheriff's Office were helping.

Huskinson said a funeral for the women will be held next week at the LDS chapel on River Road and 900 South.

"Our hearts go out to the victims and families of this tragic event," Nigbur said. "The Utah Highway Patrol has met with family members and will continue to offer assistance ... This was an unfortunate accident, and UHP will do everything in our power to support those who are suffering at this time."

ncarlisle@sltrib.com jbergreen@sltrib.com

Mark Havnes contributed to this report.