Photo by: DU.edu

A professor from the Sturm College of Law died on Wednesday following injuries sustained from a bicycle accident.

Erik Bluemel, 32, crashed his bike under a bridge on 15th Street in the Lower Downtown District sometime between midnight and 12:20 a.m. on Tuesday and was declared brain-dead by hospital officials around noon last Wednesday.

Bluemel has taught at DU since last August. According to Law Dean José (Beto) Juárez Jr., Bluemel taught classes on administrative law and courses dealing with indigenous peoples and law.  His research interests included the rights of Native Americans and other indigenous people around the world, as well as environmental law.

Bluemel received his undergraduate degree from the University of California at Berkeley. He earned his law degree from New York University and his graduate law degree from Georgetown University.

According to Juárez, Bluemel taught because he wanted students to understand that law could make a difference in someone’s life.

“He was a brilliant man, very people oriented. He loved the intellectual life because of what it did and how it helped peoples’ lives,” said Juárez.

The date for Bluemel’s memorial service has not been set. His family will hold a service in California, where Bluemel is from. Another service will be held at the College of Law; this will more than likely be set in the fall because the school has been let out for the summer.