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Alcohol May Have Played Role In Death Of Well-Known Eau Claire Band Director

Gene Power Was Killed In Crash Over Weekend

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Alcohol is believed to be a factor in a crash that killed a well-known Eau Claire band director.

Gene Power, an Eau Claire resident, was killed Saturday night in a one-car crash 10 miles east of Beaver Dam. Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt said the crash happened around 10 p.m. when Powers’ Toyota Corolla went off the road and struck a tree. Responders pronounced Power dead at the scene.

“We had a crash investigation team that responded out to the scene and did a number of different measurements and calculations, and that’s how they come up with a speed formula,” said Schmidt. “There’s other indicators that indicate there might be alcohol involved but at this point we don’t have an alcohol level or anything.”

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Power worked at Eau Claire’s North High School for 10 years and also led the Chippewa Valley Youth Symphony.

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