UK fraternity member died of alcohol toxicity, coroner says. No charges filed.
Alcohol toxicity caused the cause of death of a University of Kentucky fraternity member in October, according to a report by the Fayette County Coroner.
Thomas “Lofton” Hazelwood died at the University of Kentucky Hospital after being found unresponsive at the FarmHouse Fraternity house on Oct. 18. Hazelwood was an 18-year-old freshman from Henderson and a new member of the fraternity.
“The subject (Hazelwood) was at a Fraternity House and was highly intoxicated, per friends,” according to the coroner’s report.
His blood alcohol concentration was 0.354, according to the coroner’s toxicology report. A person is considered legally impaired if their blood alcohol concentration measures at 0.08 or above, according to the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety. Hazelwood also tested positive for amphetamines.
The coroner’s report classifies Hazelwood’s death as an accidental overdose, and no trauma or foul play was detected.
Hazelwood “had been drinking heavily during the day, reportedly hard liquor,” according to the report. He was found unresponsive with vomit on his body by friends. EMS was notified and Hazelwood was transported to the hospital, where he died upon arrival, according to the report.
“No criminal charges will be filed in this case, per the University of Kentucky police,” according to the report.
Shortly after Hazelwood’s death, UK suspended all activities for the FarmHouse fraternity, and suspended all pledge activities for fraternities on campus.
Two investigations were launched, one by UK Police and one by UK’s Office of Student Conduct.
“The two investigations are nearing completion and we will discuss the results when those reviews are substantively complete,” UK spokesperson Jay Blanton said Wednesday.
Pledge activities for all fraternities are still suspended, and FarmHouse remains suspended from all activities, Blanton said.
This story was originally published December 15, 2021 at 10:56 AM.