UMD Student Could Lose Limbs; Police Report Released

DULUTH - Police released new details Tuesday involving the UMD student who was found unconscious over the weekend on her neighbor's front porch in the bitter cold.

The police reports reveal a night on the town that involved friends, entertainment and drinking.

Unfortunately, for 19-year-old Alyssa Lommel, it ended in almost death when she was dropped off at home after a house party, according to the police report.

The friends report that nothing in their night was out of the ordinary for college students.

The report says Lommel was simply ready to go home and was reportedly “buzzed,” but her status wasn't a concern to friends.

According to the police report, Lommel started drinking with friends around 6:00 p.m. Friday. They then went to a UMD hockey game at Amsoil Arena before heading to a house party.

The report says Lommel consumed multiple drinks throughout the night before requesting a ride home from friends around midnight.

The report goes on to say her friends dropped her off right in front of her house at 810 Woodland Avenue, and that Lommel didn't seem overly intoxicated.

In the report, the friends say they did not wait to watch her go inside the house.

It wasn't until 9:30 a.m. Saturday when she was found unconscious by a passerby on her neighbor's front porch.

Lommel was rushed to St. Luke’s Hospital and then airlifted to Region's Hospital in St. Paul where she was suffering from severe damage to her hands and feet, and hypothermia.

Lommel's parents made a statement Tuesday stating, “We are grateful for all the thoughts and prayers for our daughter. We ask for privacy at this time so that we may focus on her healing.”

According to Lommel’s CaringBridge, she worked as a kid care supervisor at St. John’s Catholic Church and school in Duluth.

Cynthia Zook, the director of schools, wrote on Lommel’s CaringBridge Tuesday stating, “Be assured that I have asked all our students and staff to pray for Alyssa. May you find comfort in knowing that others are praying for as good of an outcome as possible.”

Many parents of children at St. John’s have also reached out to the Lommel family in support.

Meanwhile, on Lommel's last CaringBridge post her mother wrote she had a busy day with several procedures, and doctors are fighting to keep her hands and feet from amputation.

Doctors ended treatment on Lommel’s feet to concentrate on her hands. They hope she will keep them, but will likely have minimal function. They hope to use skin grafts from her legs to close up open wounds.

UMD has sent an e-mail reminding students to dress warm when they are out traveling and to travel in groups.

Lommel is a sophomore majoring in psychology and sociology.

She was a graduate of Cathedral High School in St. Cloud.

There is a group organizing a spaghetti dinner to raise money for Lommel and her family.

It is set for Saturday night at The Other Place Bar at 6:00 p.m.