Michigan Tech sophomore Nicholas M. Pierce died at 8:30 AM Wednesday morning, October 25, 2006, at Marquette General Hospital, from traumatic chest injuries (including broken ribs, a punctured lung, and a badly bruised heart, among other damage) resulting from the crash of his beloved Nissan Sentra Spec V. At 2:30 AM, six hours earlier, his car had left the road and gone airborne, crashing head-on into a large tree in the ravine just below the sharp curve up on Sharon Avenue behind Gates' Tennis Center and the ice arena (SDC), in Houghton, Michigan, on a road Nick had driven hundreds of times. Although both Nick and his passenger Joe survived the initial crash (emergency help was there within a minute), Nick died later at the second hospital, Marquette General, primarily because his heart was too badly damaged to retain an electrical charge. Many doctors at both hospitals and the ambulances worked to save him - the hospital bills (we had insurance coverage) were in the tens of thousands of dollars - and their efforts are greatly appreciated. Nick's family is devastated by the loss of Nick...his loss leaves gaping holes in all of our hearts. Nick will be missed tremendously by all of his family and friends. Several memorial crosses mark the crash site. Nick of Eau Claire and Hancock, was born in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Sept. 12, 1983, the son of William Pierce and Amy Hietapelto. Hietapelto was formerly a faculty member in the School of Business and Economics. Nick was a sophomore at Michigan Tech majoring in electrical engineering technology. He recently became a member of the Alpha Kappa Psi Fraternity (Gamma Phi Pledge Class) at the university and played goalie on MTU's Wolfpack club ice hockey team. Prior to attending Michigan Tech, Nicholas attended Morrisville State (SUNY Morrisville), and was a goalie for the Morrisville Mustangs ice hockey team (2004, 2005 and 2006 NJCAA National Champions). Prior to attending college, Nicholas was a goalie for two years for the Boston Junior Blackhawks. Nick enjoyed hockey, lacrosse, skiing, snowmobiling, four-wheeling and playing pool, as well as working on automobiles and automobile electronics.

Survived By: Nicholas is survived by his father, William Pierce of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.; his mother, Amy (Roger Reinsch) Hietapelto of Eau Claire; step-sister Anika Reinsch of Eau Claire; maternal grandparents; and aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, maternal step-grandfather and a cousin.