Three dead following single-vehicle accident in Saukville

TOWN OF SAUKVILLE -- Three people were killed in a single-vehicle traffic accident that occurred on Hawthorne Dr. near County Road I late Monday night, September 10th.

Officials with the Ozaukee County Sheriff's Department say the one-vehicle crash occurred just before 11 p.m. in the Town of Saukville.

Police say the driver, 25-year-old Nicholas Snow of Germantown, was traveling eastbound on Hawthorne Rd. when he failed to stop at an intersection. Officials say Snow continued onto a service road just east of the intersection when he lost control of the vehicle and struck several trees, which split the vehicle in two.

"It appears at a high rate of speed, when he got to the intersection, he went airborne and when the car left the roadway, hit a group of trees on Hawthorne Hills golf course property," Lt. Christy Knowles with the Ozaukee Co. Sheriff's Office said.

23-year-old Stephen Miller of Port Washington and 21-year-old Jayme Ceplina of West Bend died in the wreck. Snow was taken to Froedtert Hospital via Flight for Life, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

Ceplina was a former Marine now living at home. She was playing pool with Miller and Snow at her home Monday night. Donna Ceplina, Jayme's mother, says she knew the three had been drinking, but said none of them seemed drunk when they left the house around 9:30 p.m.

"I hugged her and told her, 'God be with you, I love you.' Next thing I know it's 1:00, 1:30 and the sheriff is at the door saying she passed," Ceplina said.

Ceplina hopes others learn to slow down and never drink and drive -- because losing a child is something no parent should have to face.

"She always said, "I love you past the heavens,' and that was her last words," Ceplina said.

The Ozaukee County Sheriff's Office is investigating how fast they were going. Investigators have requested a blood alcohol test be conducted on Snow.

Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates on this developing story.