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Dead 18-Year-Old Had Alcohol Level 5 Times Limit

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Apr 3, 2007 2:40 pm US/Eastern

Dead 18-Year-Old Had Alcohol Level 5 Times Limit

According To Autopsy Reports, Gary DeVercelly Died Of Alcohol Intoxication

TRENTON (CBS/AP) ― The blood alcohol content of the Rider University freshman that died last week after drinking at a fraternity house was more than five times the legal limit for driving, authorities say.

Gary DeVercelly, 18, of Long Beach, Calif., had a blood alcohol content of .426, and died from his alcohol intoxication, according to autopsy results released by the prosecutor's office.

For now, DeVercelly's death is being listed as accidental, but that could be amended later as local police and prosecutors investigate whether DeVercelly's death was hazing-related, said prosecutor's office spokesman Casey DeBlasio.

DeVercelly died Friday morning at Capital Health System's Fuld hospital in Trenton, where he was admitted a day earlier after drinking excessively at the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity house on the private university's campus in Lawrence Township.

Friends of the freshman said DeVercelly had told them he would be drinking vodka during a pledge initiation event at the fraternity house, The Times of Trenton reported for Tuesday's newspapers.

Both Rider University and Oxford, Ohio-based Phi Kappa Tau are waiting for the results of the law enforcement investigation before deciding whether sanctions are warranted against the fraternity chapter or individual students.

National Phi Kappa Tau leaders on Tuesday released a statement mourning DeVercelly's death and saying that the student had passed on to "Chapter Eternal."

"Rather than contribute to any unfounded speculation, Phi Kappa Tau's focus continues to remain squarely on providing support to Gary's family, friends and chapter brothers," the statement said.

(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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