A UW-Eau Claire student was killed Friday on his way to a spring break trip in Florida, and another is in critical condition, the Leader-Telegram reported today.

Junior Jason Buchmeier, 21, of Mauston died when an airborne tire from a semi tractor-trailer hit the minivan he was riding in near Macon, Ga.

Buchmeier was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver, senior Jason Schluter, 23, of Lyndon Station, is in critical condition at The Medical Center of Central Georgia in Macon.

According to a university-wide e-mail from the University News Bureau, Schluter was able to pull the van over after the accident, which probably saved additional lives.

The accident occurred at about 12:45 p.m. Friday on Interstate 75 about 100 miles from the Florida state line.

Other Eau Claire students riding in the vehicle included juniors Christopher Wiora and Patrick Senzig and sophomore Ryan Wirth. Those students, along with Joe Burns of Lyndon Station, who is not a student at Eau Claire, were treated and released.

For a full story, see The Spectator when it resumes publishing on March 29.

Funeral services for Buchmeier will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 22, at the Mauston United Methodist Church in Mauston. Friends may call on Wednesday, March 21, from 3 to 9 p.m. and on Thursday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery.

Senior dies from injuries in crash

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