Two MLC students killed in car crash
POSTED: May 18, 2009
EAGLE LAKE, Wis. - Two Martin Luther College students have died after a Sunday afternoon autmobile crash near Eagle Lake, Wis.
Zachary Moyle and Ryan Zweifel, both 19, both from Lake Mills, Wis., were involved in a crash in Vilas County, Wis., on Sunday, Moyle was pronounced dead at the scene. Zweifel died Monday as a result of his injuries.
According to a report in the Daily Jefferson County Union, Fort Atkinson, Wis., the Vilas County Sherifr's Department received a report of a one-vehicle crash at 3:20 p.m. Sunday on Military Road in the Town of Washington. Preliminary investigations indicate that a 2000 Volkswagen Jetta was traveling south on Military Road at a high rate of speed when the vehicle left the roadway, entered the west ditch in a curve, overturned and struck a tree.
Moyle was driving the car. Zweifel was pulled from the vehicle and transported to Eagle River Memorial Hospital. He was later flown to Aspirus Wausau Hospital.
The two were 2008 gradudates of Lakeside Lutheran High School in Lake Mills.
Lakeside Lutheran High School Principal James Grasby, said Sunday that Moyle was a one of the Class of 2008's valedictorians.
"He was an excellent kid," Grasby said. "The high grades say one thing, but he was also a person who showed two very good characteristics. That was common sense and, at the same time, compassion. He was a real compassionate kind of a person, concerned about other people."
Moyle was attending Martin Luther College in New Ulm, preparing to become a minister. Zweifel was an Education students, majoring in Secondary Social Studies. MLC held its graduation ceremonies on Saturday, and students have already left the campus.
Martin Luther College President Mark Zarling, issued the following statement:
"The apostle Paul urges Christians to 'mourn with those who mourn.' (Ro. 12:15b)," said Zarling. "No matter how scattered we might be at this time, each member of the MLC community cries with the families in this painful trial. But through our tears we also hear the apostle remind us not to grieve like the rest of men who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep! (1 Thess. 4:13-14) This message of victory in Christ Jesus is the message that God graciously allowed Zach and Ryan to believe. By the Spirit's grace they also sought to share that message with others and so came to MLC to prepare for ministry.
"Our dear brothers, Zach and Ryan, were and remain close friends. Their friendship is now perfected in glory as they together enjoy the fellowship of their dearest Friend Jesus in the glory of his presence.
"We are comforted that Zach and Ryan now abide in the Savior's arms in glory. May the Moyle family and the Zweifel family find their solace in the Savior's word. Jesus proclaims, "Because I live, you also will live."
Funeral arrangements are pending at the Nitardy Funeral Home in Fort Atkinson.
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GJ - I am sure all the readers join me in wishing both extended families and the MLC community the comfort and peace of the Risen Christ, His promise of forgiveness, and the hope of eternal life.
One grief reaction is anger. I saw that in the response about needless teen accidents. Anyone who has known a case like this, especially the medical and emergency people, may exhibit more anger than sadness, but it is the same sorrow.
People have said how sad it is that my wife and I lost two children to a mysterious disorder. But it is far more difficult to lose someone to an accident, where everyone can think, "If only I had...." An accidental loss is a terrible burden to bear, even with the Gospel of Christ as our shield against the fiery darts of Satan. Luther said he was quick with words until he lost a child - then he was weak with grief.
So we grieve with those who grieve and hope than this example will make us all more mindful of our faults in driving.
7 comments:
Dr. Jackson,
You may want to change the header from MLS to MLC so as not to confuse someone...
This high speed crash that killed another exibits selfishness and no common sense. This was not an accident. We see this all too often. Teens have the attitude of being indestructable. Always looking for a thrill or simply not paying attention to the task of driving. I have had to cut teens like this from their vehicles. It is not a pleasant task. Let this be a teaching moment for other parents.
Wow. There's so much wrong with that last post that I don't even know where to begin.
Great job of judging! Unless you know the details of this accident, please stop it! Two families are surely wrestling with deep emotion at this moment. Pray for them. I attended the funeral of a young friend whose car hit a ditch on a curve, at a high rate of speed - it was a highway, because a deer jumped out and he tried to avoid it. There was nothing selfish or sinful. Whatever happened to the best construction thing that Luther spoke of?
Anonymous said
I will say I feel great remorse for both families!! I was at the hospital when one of the boys were brought in and I can say that it really made me realize that anytime of the day anything terrible can happen like this. I think every minute of how much more of life they had to live for. Appreciate every minute of your life because in a flash it can be ended like this.
Anonymous' comment at 10:25am is appropriate. The Journal article stated they were driving at a high rate of speed indicating that the speed was a factor in the tragedy.
Anonymous at 8:07pm said, "...how much more of life they had to live for." No. They lived for as long as the time of grace God had given them. No more, no less. It's a reminder not to take God's Word, Christian doctrine for granted. It is faith in the true Scriptural and Confessional Gospel of Christ which, if held by these two students, has turned this event into a joyous triumph instead of endless grief and sorrow. Only by enduring to our deaths in the true Christian faith will we receive the crown of life and live eternally with God. To lose it means eternity in Hell. Don't allow anyone to take your treasure of the pure Scriptural and Confessional Gospel of justification by faith alone in Christ away from you - not by force, not with the honey that drips from false teachers lips or by lulling you into the sleep of apathy toward Christ's Word with the false doctrine and practice of the New Age emergent church growth apostasy.
By the grace of God, forever in Christ,
Brett Meyer
Anonymous wrote: “This high speed crash that killed another exibits selfishness and no common sense. This was not an accident. We see this all too often. Teens have the attitude of being indestructable. Always looking for a thrill or simply not paying attention to the task of driving. I have had to cut teens like this from their vehicles. It is not a pleasant task. Let this be a teaching moment for other parents.”
Is the sin of breaking the speed limit deserving of death? According to God, yes. Passages like “The wages of sin is death,” and “Whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at one point is guilty of breaking the whole (thing),” come to mind. Even if Zach was a perfect boy his whole life and this one time, for whatever reason, broke the speed limit, that act would be deserving of death.
But (and there is a BIG “but” here, folks!) that should make us cringe in fear, not gloat in self-righteousness! Sin is so bad that even one sin is deserving of death – how many more do we all do? Sin is so bad that even speeding deserves death - what about all the “worse” sins out there?
Is the sin of breaking the speed limit unforgivable? According to God, no. Passages like “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world,” and “…when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.” Stories like David and Bathsheba, or Saul the Persecutor come to mind. If God forgave those people, surely he forgives Zach for breaking the speed limit, if that is in fact what happened. And he also forgives us for all that we do and more. Thank God for forgiveness! What would we be without it?
My heart goes out to the Moyle and Otterstatter families! May they never run into comments like the one I quoted from above.
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