Use back arrow for previous page    

 Listing for:    Spring 2008    Fall 2008   Spring 2009  Spring 2010   List for tragic since 2004

 

Alcohol-Related Student Deaths Fall 2009

Presented below is an unfortunate tabulation of alcohol related campus deaths reported in the media for the fall 2009 semester. 

The information supplied for each victim is a tabulation of media reports. The circumstances and causes of the tragedies are summarized within the listing with more details contained in the associated link. 

 

CompelledToAct.com

Concerned about the drinking culture on campuses?

This site provides information as to the seriousness of the problem.

In loving Memory of Kristine Guest 

contact us  info@compelledtoact.com

Information on Federal Law addressing campus drinking 

Message for family of victims

 
David Mueller, 19, July 19, 2009, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs How and why? David was a passenger in a car that crashed in where the car ended up on its roof in a field alongside the road. The intoxicated student driver survived the crash.  Authorities determined speed and alcohol were factors and the driver faced charges. Accident- drinking associated
Matt Smith, 19, July 25, 2009, Ohio University How and why? Matt fell off a balcony at an off-campus house where a party was being held. Matt had hopped up on the railing which wobbled and caused him to fall. Accident- drinking associated
Landon Siela, 21, August 22, 2009, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne- How and why? Three students had been drinking alcoholic beverages and were playing around with an airsoft gun.  One estimated drinking about four beers and taking three shots that day.  The friends intended to play a joke on Landon by pointing firearms, which they believed to be unloaded, at Siela as he exited a bathroom. Landon was killed when the .45-caliber handgun one of the was holding inadvertently discharged, striking him in the neck. Accident- drinking associated
Courtland Benjamin Smith, August 22, 2009, University of North Carolina How and why? Courtland died during a period erratic behavior when he stated that he was drunk after leaving a frat party.   Prior to his death, Courtland told a county 911 dispatcher that he was drunk, driving at a high rate of speed, had a 9 mm Glock handgun, was suicidal, and wanted police officers to stop him.  Police said they stopped Courtland just before 5 a.m.  During the traffic stop, some sort of confrontation ensued, and the officer shot and killed Smith.   Courtland’s blood alcohol level was found to be approximately .22. Violence- drinking associated
Nirmam Vasanwala, 19, September 9, 2009, St. Louis University   How and why? Nirmam  fell from the balcony of his 12th floor apartment on the University campus.  Students who were with Nirmam that night said he had been drinking off campus.  The cause of death was determined to be “acute ethanol intoxication” — or alcohol consumption — as well as blunt trauma. Accident- drinking associated
Kara Morgan, September 12, 2009, University of Kansas How and why? Kara’s car was struck by another car driving the wrong way on the highway.  While the intoxicated driver of the other car was primarily responsible for the tragedy, the police concluded that the intoxication level of both drivers were contributors to the accident.  Accident- drinking associated
Babur Z. Khalique, September 19, 2009, Boston University How and why? Babur fell from a third floor apartment balcony after drinking alcohol through the day and evening. Accident- drinking associated
Joseph Dado, September 20, 2009, Penn State How and why? After being missing for hours, Joseph was found by University at the bottom of a stairwell on campus, about 75 yards away from the fraternity house where he was last seen.  Earlier in the month, two Penn State students were charged with furnishing alcohol to a minor after a 19-year-old sustained serious injuries following a fall from a third-floor balcony.  Joseph's blood alcohol level was .169. Accident- drinking associated
Morgan Harrington, 20, October, 2009,  Virginia Tech How and why? Morgan had temporally left a Metallica concert alone.  When denied reentry, Morgan attempted to return to campus but was not seen again for months.  After a lengthy and public search, her body was found in a field in January.   Police reported that Morgan had been drinking at the concert. Violence- drinking associated
Jeremy Sobczak-Obetts, 23, October 17, 2009, Michigan State University How and why? Jeremy died when caused when the SUV in which Jeremy was traveling slid off the road and struck a tree at high speed. The vehicle suffered catastrophic damage, although the driver sustained only minor injuries.  The driver was arrested when found to have a blood-alcohol level nearly three times the legal limit. Accident- drinking associated
Patricia Miguel, 30 (nonstudent), October 27, 2009,  Hit by Cal State-Fullerton student How and why? Sally Miguel, 44, and her passenger, Patricia Miguel, 30, both died of injuries suffered when their 2009 Chevy Silverado was hit head-on by a vehicle driven by Jessica Shekell, a student at Cal State-Fullerton.  Ms. Shekell was charges with DUI when her blood alcohol level was determined to be .26 percent approximately 45 minutes after the collision. Accident- drinking associated
Sally Miguel, 44 (nonstudent), October 27, 2009,  Hit by Cal State-Fullerton student How and why? Sally Miguel, 44, and her passenger, Patricia Miguel, 30, both died of injuries suffered when their 2009 Chevy Silverado was hit head-on by a vehicle driven by Jessica Shekell, a student at Cal State-Fullerton.  Ms. Shekell was charges with DUI when her blood alcohol level was determined to be .26 percent approximately 45 minutes after the collision. Accident- drinking associated
Andre Narcisse, 19, November 1, 2009, Yale University   How and why? Andre was found unresponsive in his suite at Branford College, one of the Yale's residential colleges.  His death was shown to be caused by multiple drug toxicity, which may include alcohol. Alcohol and Drug Poisoning
Ryan Rosman, November 5, 2009, Michigan State University How and why? Ryan was at Joe Louis Arena for a Detroit Red Wings game when he somehow got underneath a bus which dragged him about 3,300 feet into an intersection.  Ryan's blood alcohol content was test to be about .14 . Accident- drinking associated
Erica Rose, 19, November 20, 2009, University of Rhode Island How and why? Erica was a passenger in a car when it swerved into the median and hit the guardrail. The car skidded across two northbound traffic lanes and stopped in the breakdown lane at around 1:30 a.m.  Erica did not survive the crash.   The URI student drive was arrested for driving under the influence. Accident- drinking associated
Christopher Kernich, 23, November 21, 2009, Kent State University How and why? Christopher lost his life in an “unprovoked” attack by three Akron students who were attending a fraternity party in Kent that night. The confrontation occurred after the three left the party and almost hit Christopher’s group with their car.  Alcohol surely fueled the confrontation.  The attackers spent the night and the morning prior to the attack drinking 100-proof vodka and beer while partying in Kent according to testimony.  Violence- drinking associated
Brian McMillen, 22, November 21, 2009, Michigan State How and why? Brian was found unresponsive in his fraternity house bed at about 5 a.m early Saturday morning.  Brianand others had been "hanging out" Friday night and had been drinking.  Authorities believe alcohol was a likely contributing factor with possible health issues also a factor. Alcohol Poisoning
Jay Franklin Derby, 20, November 22, 2009, Appalachian State University How and why? Jay was fatally shot while attending a party with friends in an apartment near the university.  A friend pointed a black-powder muzzleloader rifle only to scare his friends not knowing the gun was loaded.  Accident- drinking associated
Jonathan R. Novenski, 18, December 22, 2009, Daytona State College (Home on Winter Break) How and why? Jonathan was dropped off at his home by a friend after a party at another friend's home.  Jonathan was found dead in a ditch in front of his home.  He lost his life as result of alcohol and OxyContin poisoning. Alcohol and Drug Poisoning
Christopher Dann, December 29, 2009, California State University, Long Beach How and why? Christopher and another driver  lost their lives in an automobile crash in which both drives were intoxicated.  Christopher had a blood-alcohol of 0.20 percent at the time of the accident. Accident- drinking associated
 
   

Federal Law addressing campus drinking

Civil Litigation-Responsibility for Student Safety

Parent Awareness

 

List for tragic ends before fall 2007

Listing for Spring 2008 semester

Listing for Fall 2008 semester
Listing for Spring 2009 semester
 

Top of page

ACT NOW-Before Events Leave You With No Choice

Leave your comments on the CompelledToAct Blog