ICYMI: UNCC Student Who Died In Bus Fall Had Been Drinking

CHARLOTTE, NC — A 20-year-old University of North Carolina Charlotte student who died after falling out of an emergency window of a chartered party bus had a blood alcohol level that was twice the legal limit to drive, according to reports.

Polly Miranda Rogers was killed May 1 when she fell out of the emergency window of a Charlotte Party Charter Bus in the 4500 block of North Tryon Street as it was headed to a bar in uptown Charlotte. According to a police report, she fell out of the window on the right side of the bus, landing in the center lane of North Tryon Street, and was then hit by two vehicles.

A toxicology report released May 29 showed that the underage student had a blood alcohol level of 0.19 which is double the legal limit to drive in North Carolina, the Charlotte Observer reported.

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Less that a week after Rogers was killed, the driver of the party bus was cited for having no insurance and displaying a fake license plate.

"Victor Rabb, the owner of the bus, was issued citations after it was determined that the vehicle was uninsured and was displaying a fictitious license plate on the bus during the time the traffic fatality occurred on May 01, 2018," Charlotte Mecklenburg Police said at the time.

Rabb surrendered the bus to investigators from the NC State Highway Patrol Motor Carrier Division, who inspected it for equipment violations.

Rogers’ death also prompted a UNCC fraternity to suspend its operations at the school. UNCC's Kappa Sigma fraternity had rented the party bus, which was carrying people who were drinking alcohol, The Charlotte Observer reported. Kappa Sigma Fraternity issued a statement announcing the suspension of UNCC operations of its Kappa-Omega Chapter, and said it would cooperate with school and police investigations, as well as launch its own investigation.

A GoFundMe campaign for Rogers' family was set up May 2, and nearly doubled it's $7,000 goal in about six hours before it stopped taking donations.

"Polly was an emerging leader in our chapter [of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority] and one of the friendliest people you would ever meet," the GoFundMe campaign page said. "She could always be found in the common areas of the house greeting sisters after their day at classes and making sure their day was going well. She will be missed fiercely."

Photo of Polly Rogers courtesy of GoFundMe, a Patch partner.