In the wake of a University of Wisconsin student’s death Sunday, friends and family are mourning the loss as new information about the accident comes to light.
UW senior Maggie Jaszewski said she knew fellow UW senior Dylan Ellefson since high school and since coming to UW, the two helped each other adjust to college life.
A Spanish education major, Jaszewski said Ellefson was one of the few people she knew whose first choice career was teaching.
“He really wanted to be a teacher,” Jaszewski said. “He really wanted to help people.”
Besides his enthusiasm for teaching, Ellefson loved music. Jaszewski said she and Ellefson were planning to see Lady Gaga in February.
Ellefson also had a passion for languages, and was fluent in both Spanish and Japanese, Jaszewski said.
UW Dean of Students Lori Berquam said a meeting was held today about holding a memorial service on campus to honor Ellefson, but no decisions were made.
Because Ellefson is from Sun Prairie, which is considered local, Berquam said a campus memorial service will depend on what arrangements Ellefson’s family decides to make.
The best thing the UW community can do is show sensitivity to the feelings of those grieving the loss of Ellefson, Berquam added.
“Our hearts go out to his family and friends during this tragic situation,” Berquam said. “It’s a life that was cut too short and a loss that will be felt by UW for a long, long time.”
According to the updated incident report from Madison Police, Ellefson stopped his car on the right outbound lane on East Johnson Street Sunday afternoon because he was having car trouble.
A 19-year-old woman said she had little time to react when the car ahead of her made a sudden lane change to avoid Ellefson and as a result struck both the victim and his car.
Madison Fire Rescue transported Ellefson to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Alcohol and drugs were not factors in the crash, according to the incident report. Police have not made any arrests or issued any citations, although the accident is still being reviewed.
Berquam said any students in need of grief support can contact University Health Services Counseling and Consultation Services, or the Division of Student Life.
