UPDATED Tuesday, September 23, 2008 --- 10:57 a.m.

The Dane County Coroner says the driver in last month's fatal crash on Midvale Boulevard was drunk.

Richard Putze's blood alcohol concentration was 0.144.

Putze drove into a tree with his passengers, Lindsey Plank and Daniel Myers.

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UPDATED Monday, September 8, 2008 --- 5:45pm

From UW-Madison NEWS:

A campus memorial service will be held in memory of Lindsey Plank, Dan Myers and Richard Putze, UW-Madison students who died in an Aug. 27 car accident on Midvale Boulevard.

The service will be held at 8 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 8, at the Red Gym. It is being coordinated by the organization of University Religious Workers in cooperation with the Offices of the Dean of Students.

Friends, family, faculty and staff members are invited to share stories and reflections about lives of the three students. Dean of Students Lori Berquam is also expected to speak.

All three had made a unique mark on campus. Putze and Plank were involved in the Department of Chemistry as volunteer lecture demonstrators. Myers was a talented pianist who had recently become eligible to receive his degree.

“Dan was a piano major in my studio for all four of his years here at UW and was one of the most talented students I've ever had,” reflects Professor Todd Welbourne of the School of Music.

“He was extremely bright and had a unique take on everything he touched. He could toss off a virtuoso Liszt etude with ease, and then turn around and give an in-depth theoretical analysis of complicated 20th century music,” he adds. “He certainly had a bright future waiting for him in the music world. We are all going to miss him so very much.”

Separately, scholarship funds have been set up in the name of Myers in the School of Music and for Plank and Putze in the Department of Chemistry. The chemistry department will also assist anyone wanting to provide funds directly to the families.

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UPDATED Wednesday, August 27 --- 5:30pm

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Three University of Wisconsin-Madison students are dead after an early morning car crash.

The Dane County Corner's Office identified the victims as 22-year-old Daniel Myers, 23-year-old Lindsey T. Plank and 22-year-old Richard H. Putze.

All three victims were from Madison and killed when their car struck a tree just after 1:45 a.m. Wednesday morning.

University officials say Plank and Putze were seniors majoring in chemistry.

Myers was not enrolled for the fall semester, but completed his degree requirements this summer in music performance.

Madison Police spokesman Howard Payne says alcohol may have been a factor in the crash.

Dean of Students Lori Berquam says the timing of the tragedy is particularly hard just before the new semester begins.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Wednesday, August 27, 2008 --- 1:05 p.m.

UPDATE: The third occupant has died.

The Dane County Coroner's Office has identified the three victims from the early morning crash in the 200 block of Midvale Boulevard.

They are identified as:
23-year-old Lindsey T. Plank
22-year-old Richard H. Putze
22-year-old Daniel Myers

Richard was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, and Lindsey was pronounced dead at the U.W. Hospital, due to their injuries.

All three passengers in the car were current students of UW-Madison.

The crash is still under investigation.

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UPDATED Wednesday, August 27, 2008 --- 10:15 a.m.

According to the Madison Police Department:

On 8/27/2008 shortly after 1:30am, The Madison Police Department, with assistance from The Madison Fire Department, responded to a single vehicle accident involving a tree. From the preliminary investigation, the involved vehicle was traveling northbound on S. Midvale Boulevard near the 200 block, when this vehicle appears to have lost control and impacted a tree.

As a result of the accident, 2 occupants were pronounced deceased, and 1 occupant remains in critical condition at a local hospital. Seatbelts were used by at least 2 of the occupants. Questions regarding alcohol are also being investigated at this time. This accident remains under investigation by The Madison Police Department Traffic Specialists, and names of occupants are not being released pending notifications of family and the submission of the Coroners’ report.

Victims:
Male, early 20s, deceased
Female, early 20s, deceased
Male, early 20s, critical condition
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Posted Wednesday, August 27-- 6:02am

One person is dead after a car crash around 1:45 Wednesday morning.

It happened on the 200 block of South Midvale Boulevard. The Madison Fire Department says a car carrying three passengers hit a tree.

Extrication of two victims was conducted, and both were transported to UW Hospital. Conditions of the victims are unknown at this time. The third victim pronounced dead at the scene by the coroner.

No other word on factors in the crash.

The crash closed parts of Midvale for part of the morning.

All lanes are now open.