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Heavy drinking before lake-jump and OSU student’s death

Posted at 1:34 PM, May 16, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-16 13:34:19-04

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Records obtained by The Associated Press indicate numerous students were drinking heavily before a traditional cold-weather lake jump last year when an Ohio State University student died.

The 32-page university police report provided to the AP through a records request includes accounts of students drinking for several hours before the Nov. 25 jump.

A coroner has said 22-year-old Austin Singletary died from accidental trauma to the head and neck caused by diving into shallow water during the jump, which drew thousands of other students.

The coroner said Singletary had a blood-alcohol content of 0.18, more than twice the legal limit in Ohio.

The report also shows Singletary was uneasy about making the dive, his first.

Ohio State is trying to end the annual tradition.