Driver's ed instructor killed in Chisago County crash

By TIM HARLOW, Star Tribune

Last update: August 6, 2008 - 4:56 PM

A driver education instructor died Tuesday hours after he was involved in an accident while he was teaching one of his students how to drive.

Neil Stoeckel, 58, was riding along with a 15-year-old Chisago Lakes High School student when a Chevrolet Blazer that appeared to have run a red light slammed into the passenger's side door of the driver education car at Hwy. 8 at Pioneer Road in Chisago County, the State Patrol said.

Preliminary reports indicate that the student identified as Ryan Merry, 15, of Lindstrom, had the green light, pulled into the intersection and was attempting to cross Hwy. 8 when his vehicle was hit about 1:30 p.m., the patrol said.

"There was nothing to indicate that the road was a factor in the accident," said Lt. Bruce Brynell of the State Patrol.

Stoeckel died of internal injuries about 3 hours later at North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale, the patrol said.

Stoeckel was a behind-the-wheel instructor for the Chisago Lakes School District's Community Education department. He also had taught industrial arts for 33 years at St. Francis Middle School and had served on the district's safety committee, said Jay Reker, director of Human Resources for St. Francis Schools.

"He was a very respected teacher," Reker said. "We're kind of reeling here."

Funeral services for Stoeckel will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Long Lake Lutheran Church in Isanti, Minn. Visitation will be 1 hour before services and from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Carlson Funeral Home in Cambridge.

Merry, the student, was treated for minor injuries and released to his parents at the accident site, a school district spokeswoman said.

The Blazer driver identified as Elizabeth Miller, 61, of Turtle Lake, Wis., was treated at St. Croix Regional Medical Center in St. Croix Falls, Wis. for minor injuries, and then released, the patrol said.

The crash is under investigation. Information about the crash will be forwarded to the Chisago County Attorney's Office for possible charges, Brynell said.