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PrintCOLUMBIA — An MU freshman died this weekend after a car accident in Illinois.
Evan William Dalgaard of St. Louis died early Saturday morning after losing control of his car on U.S. 45 in Douglas County, Ill., according to the Illinois state police. He was 19.
He lost control of the Honda Accord as he drove through an S-curve, colliding with a Ford F-150 series truck, according to Illinois State Police. The driver of the truck was critically injured and taken to a nearby hospital. Mr. Dalgaard was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
Mr. Dalgaard was a political science major at MU. He graduated from Kirkwood High School in 2007.
He was a member of the National Youth Leadership Council, an organization that works with youth to become active members of democracy.
“The kid never had a bad day in his life,” said MU student Justin Mulligan, a former roommate. “He was always smiling, and he was the most selfless person I know.”
Mulligan said he knew instantly that he was going to get along with Dalgaard. “He got to the room five hours before I got there and didn’t unpack because he wanted to know where I wanted my things,” he said.
MU student Joe Lammert has lived with Dalgaard for the past year. “He just filled our lives with joy. Regardless if you knew him for five minutes or five years, he put a smile on his face for everything,” Lammert said.
Dalgaard lived in the Evans Scholars fraternity house at MU. Evans Scholars members are former golf caddies and are eligible based on character, leadership, academics and financial need.
Cathy Scroggs, vice chancellor of student affairs, said Mr. Dalgaard will be officially included in next year’s MU Remembers vigil. The event has been organized in order to remember MU students that have died within the past year.
Mr. Dalgaard is survived by his parents, Kirk and Joan Dalgaard; his brothers, Erik and Bret; his two grandmothers, Lena Dalgaard and Elizabeth Skroska; one aunt; one uncle; and several cousins.
His two grandfathers, Bruce Dalgaard and Cletus Skroska, died earlier.
Visitation will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday at St. Lucas United Church of Christ at 11735 Denny Road, St. Louis. The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the same location.
Memorials may be sent to the Evan Dalgaard Youth Leadership Scholarship, c/o Kirkwood School District Foundation, 11289 Manchester Road, St. Louis, MO 63122.
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