Friends and family of an Eau Claire High School student killed in a traffic crash over the weekend are trying to deal with the loss.

18-year-old Willow Stoeklen was a passenger in a car that crashed in Carson Park Saturday night. She died early Sunday morning.

Everyone who we spoke to says they're devastated to lose such a remarkably creative young woman.

"Last night I got a call from my boyfriend and he's like what's Willow's last name? And I was like ‘It's Stoeklen,’ and he was like ‘there's some things you need to look into,’” recalls Kathy Clark.

She never expected to lose the young woman who had become like a sister to her.

"I called her mom and she was like yep, that was Willow," says Clark.

Clark met Willow Stoeklen through the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program in 2005. Since then, the two have been inseparable.

"During the winter, we'd get lots of coffee but during the summer she was always outside...in the trees, up the trees, in the water… any chance to get outside,” remembers Clark. “If there was any kind of animal around, or kids, she was a happy girl."

Clark says the pair bonded over their love of nature and art. One of her most recent memories was willow getting into water fights at Clark's family Fourth of July get-together.

“She had a blast, and everyone commented on her, that she was such a vivid girl, just full of life,” says Clark. “She was out there. That was definitely her.”

"What I admire most about her was the fact that she was an absolute individual," says Clark.

A unique individual, whose full and vibrant life was tragically cut short.

"It's unexpected. It's like I'm not going to see her next week. Who am I going to hang out with and walk barefoot through the park with?” wonders Clark. “It's going to take some time to adjust, definitely."

Willow Stoeklen would have finished up her senior year of high school in the fall.

Her family was too distraught to talk on camera, but say she was always smiling and free-spirited.

There's no word yet on any plans for a memorial service.

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Story from Sunday, July 20, 2008

A car crashes into a tree, killing a young Eau Claire woman.
Saturday night, shortly before 10:30 p.m., police responded to a car crash.

The eighteen-year-old driver, Jacob Schlewitz, lost control of his Pontiac.

The car skidded off the road, and the passenger side hit a large tree.

Eighteen-year-old Willow Stoeklen was riding in that passenger seat.

She was taken to the hospital, but died just before five Sunday morning from her injuries.

Schlewitz only had minor injuries.

The Eau Claire Police are still investigating the crash.

They say alcohol is not a factor.