Berkeley PD Says no Crime or Foul Play Concerning Student Who Fell from Frat House

The Daily Cal is reporting that a UC Berkeley freshman named Andrew Crowley, who police say was probably intoxicated, was hurt after  “falling off the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity house” Saturday night.

Just in, this updated Press Release from the Berkeley Police Department:

 “At about 11:34 p.m. on Saturday, February 25, 2012, the City of Berkeley Police Department (BPD) got a call for service regarding an individual who fell from a the backside of a fraternity at 2395 Piedmont Avenue (N/E corner of Piedmont at Channing Way). 

BPD patrol officers arrived within four (4) minutes and  found a person down on a pathway between 2335 and 2395 Piedmont Avenue.  Officers made an initial first aid assessment of the unconscious male, but there was obvious head trauma and a lot of bleeding. 

City of Berkeley Fire Department (BFD) paramedics responded, tended to immediate medical needs and transported the subject to a local trauma center where he was treated for several injuries including severe head trauma.  BPD officers shared that the individual displayed objective symptoms of alcoholic beverage intoxication.”  

“According to a witness account and based on BPD officers’ examination of the scene, it appeared that the subject was trying to scale down the exterior of the building by climbing a drain pipe.  The drain pipe runs vertically to the roof of the three story building.  The individual, a young man in his twenties, a UC Berkeley student, made it part way down, when the pipe separated from the wall, causing him to fall backwards. He subsequently fell to the ground, along with broken pieces of the drain pipe.”   

“There was no evidence that the young man was a victim of a crime or other foul play. As is BPD protocol, Homicide detectives were notified due to the severity of the young man’s injuries. BPD is currently classifying this incident as an accident.”   “Due to HIPPA, the specific nature of the young man’s injuries, what hospital he is currently in and his name is protected by confidentiality. Absent the opportunity to interview the young man, it is not known why he was climbing the pipe.”   

That is the substance that we can share.