OWU student’s death caused by fall, hypothermia

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An Ohio Wesleyan University student died from a fall and cold temperatures in February, officials have determined.

The official cause of Luke Anthony Gabbert’s death was “blunt force injury of (the) upper cervical spine and hypothermia as a result of a fall from (a) height into a creek,” according to a report issued Friday by the Delaware County Coroner’s Office.

Gabbert, 19, a Lewis Center resident and graduate of Olentangy Orange High School, was found dead on Feb. 6 at 10:24 a.m. by a man out for a walk in the area of Delaware Run creek off South Franklin Street.

The coroner’s report also states that Gabbert had a blood-alcohol level of .21, more than twice the legal limit of .08.

The autopsy was conducted by the Franklin County Coroner’s Office and Delaware police conducted the investigation into the death.

Police reported earlier this week they were still waiting toxicology results.

The coroner’s office and police could not be reached for comment Friday evening.

Gabbert was a freshman at OWU and played on the soccer team. Gabbert was also reportedly a new pledge at the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.

Ohio Wesleyan University President Rock Jones said in a statement that there had been no indication of foul play.

Gabbert
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2016/04/web1_Luke-Gabbert-1-.jpgGabbert Courtesy photo | Ohio Wesleyan University

By Glenn Battishill

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Glenn Battishill can be reached at 740-413-0903 or on Twitter @BattishillDG.

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