A devastating late-night highway wreck near Eau Claire has taken the life of a young Minnesota woman. The tragic incident turned a regular drive into a complete nightmare for a group of close friends. Now, a tight-knit community is left mourning a bright light who was taken far too soon.
The victim was twenty-seven-year-old Anna Melicher from Eveleth, Minnesota. Anna was known by everyone around her as an incredibly loving person. She spent her days working with elementary school kids who struggled with speech disabilities. Her friends say she brought immense joy and patience to those young students every single day.
The horrific accident happened around 10:31 p.m. on Monday, June 29. Wisconsin State Patrol troopers rushed to the scene on eastbound Interstate 94. The crash took place right near milepost 64, a stretch of highway that suddenly turned deadly.
Investigators say the pickup truck drifted right off the roadway without warning. The vehicle then vaulted through the air before violently crashing down. It finally came to a stop in the highway median, completely wrecked from the heavy impact.
Anna was riding as a passenger in the back seat when the crash happened. The impact of the rollover was severe, and she suffered fatal injuries. Emergency responders sadly pronounced her dead right there at the scene of the crash.
Her boyfriend, Chase Schaffer, was also riding in the pickup truck and suffered injuries. Paramedics rushed him to the hospital for medical treatment. Another adult passenger was sitting inside the truck during the crash but luckily walked away without a single scratch.
The driver of the pickup truck was twenty-eight-year-old Cyrus Muehlberg from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. Officers at the scene noticed clear signs that Muehlberg was impaired behind the wheel. They arrested him for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
A GoFundMe campaign has already been set up by a close friend named Cameron Kurisko. The online fundraiser aims to help cover Anna’s funeral expenses during this heartbreaking time. It is also raising money to help Chase cover his unexpected medical bills as he tries to heal.
