Blooming teen dies in crash (updated)
Published 10:00 am Monday, November 8, 2010
By Amanda Lillie and Jason Schoonover
A Blooming Prairie teen died Saturday at St. Mary’s Hospital after a three-car crash near Claremont Friday night.
Jordan M. Ressler, 16, was airlifted to St. Marys Hospital after three east-bound vehicles collided after 6 p.m. Friday evening when a 2001 Volkswagen Beetle slowed because of a deer carcass on Highway 14, according to a state patrol report.
When the vehicle slowed, a 1994 Ford Escort rear-ended the Beetle, which spun into the ditch. A 2001 Grand Prix then read-ended the Escort. Ressler was a passenger in the Escort.
Miacke Duerig, a 17-year-old passenger in the Grand Prix, was also injured and transferred to St. Marys Hospital, but injuries are not life threatening, according the report.
A total of 10 teenagers, including at least five from Blooming Prairie and one from Austin, were involved in the crash.
According to the report, each of the passengers was wearing his or her seatbelt, and alcohol did not play a part in the crash.
School will not be in session Monday due to staff development, but the high school building will be open at 11 a.m. for students and community members, according to the Blooming Prairie School District website,
Counselors, school staff and clergy members will be available at the school for counseling.
A visitation will be held From 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 9 at First Lutheran Church. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10 at First Lutheran Church. The Rev. Charles Leonard and Rev. Heidi Heimgartner will be officiating