News

La Crosse student died of alcohol, drowning

Autopsy results show Jared Dion, the 21-year-old University of Wisconsin-La Crosse student who was recently found dead in the Mississippi River, died from a combination of high blood-alcohol level and drowning in cold water, the La Crosse Tribune reported.

Dion, whose blood-alcohol concentration was measured at 0.27, disappeared in the early hours of April 10 after leaving downtown bars with friends.

The UW-L community, police and Dion’s family banded together in search of the junior until police recovered Dion’s body from the river five days after his disappearance. He is one of many to have drowned in the Mississippi within the past decade.

It was generally suspected that alcohol was involved, according to Shift Commander Sgt. Ballas of the La Crosse City Police Department. Foul play was ruled out early in the investigation.

Police conducted a special meeting for students April 22 to discuss river drownings, with a panel of university officials, officers, state criminal investigators and others addressing the issue.

UW-L sophomore Joe Kaltenberg, however, believes students have not taken the seriousness of the incident into consideration.

“Honestly, I don’t think it’s made that kind of impact, sadly,” he said. “I don’t think it’s kept people from doing the same activities.”

Police have increased patrolling efforts downtown, Kaltenberg said.

Petra Roter, UW-L dean of student development and academic services, sent an e-mail to the student body a day after the discovery of Dion’s body, urging them to be aware of the risks associated with drinking.

“Understand that drinking can impair judgment,” she wrote. “If you decide to drink, do so responsibly.”

Staying with friends and taking advantage of safe-ride programs can reduce risks, she wrote.

Hundreds of family, fellow athletes and students gathered Monday to remember Dion in a memorial service, during which those close to him shared memories of him, the Tribune reported.

Dion was buried April 20 near his hometown of Merton, Wis.