The college fraternity pledge who died in a horrific hazing incident this year was forced to drink so much liquor his blood-alcohol level was more than five times the legal driving limit, an autopsy revealed.
Colin Daniel Martinez, 18, died of alcohol poisoning during a Delta Tau Delta house party at Northern Arizona State University in January, where he and others rushing the fraternity were urged to chug vodka until they vomited.
His blood-alcohol level was an incredible 0.425% — more than five times Arizona’s legal limit for driving and generally considered enough to kill a person, an autopsy report released Monday confirmed, according to CBS News.
Students at the house called police the morning of Jan. 31, after Martinez passed and had been heard snoring loudly around 3 a.m., six hours prior to the phone call. Witnesses told police students readjusted his sleeping position and checked his pulse.
Coconino County Sheriff’s Office
Others searched for symptoms of alcohol poisoning online, court papers said.
Students were desperately performing CPR on Martinez when police arrived — but despite additional life-saving efforts, he died at the scene, according to the Flagstaff Police Department.
Three frat leaders — new member educator Carter Eslick, vice president Ryan Creech and treasurer Riley Cass — were arrested on suspicion of hazing, police said.
The Coconino County Attorney’s Office said it is reviewing the case to determine whether formal charges will be filed against the three frat bosses, who were 20 at the time, according to CBS.
Martinez and three others were involved in a “rush” event to join Delta Tau Delta when they were tasked with downing two bottles of vodka to ensure they vomited as a rite to join the fraternity, according to court papers.
Some witnesses told police that the booze had been diluted with water.
After Martinez died, the university suspended the fraternity. The national organization, which is based in Indiana, later voted to shutter the NAU chapter.
Northern Arizona University said in a statement that the school was “mourning the tragic death of a student.”
“Violence hazing or any other behavior that endangers others has no place at NAU,” a school spokesperson said.
“The university has robust hazing prevention training and requirements, and has high standards for the conduct of all NAU-associated organizations and individual students.”
Delta Tau Delta told CBS News hazing “is the antithesis of brotherhood and a violation” of the fraternity’s values and that it supports anti-hazing legislation nationwide.
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