Benjamin Garrison Sprague, 18, Alcohol Poisoning

Benjamin Garrison Sprague, a freshman at Clemson University,  joined the Theta Zeta chapter of Sigma Nu fraternity this fall, joining his older brother as a member of the fraternity.  Mr. Sprague attended   a party at the fraternity, which is located off-campus,  the night of Saturday, December 8, 2007.

He was alive early Sunday morning, but was unresponsive when he was found about 7:30 a.m., when emergency services were summoned.

My deepest condolences to his family and friends. 

Ben Sprague's Facebook Tribute Page
Ben Sprague  Facebook Big Ben: You Will Be Missed

December 10, http://www.abcnews4.com/news/stories/1207/479383.html

Clemson, SC - An autopsy on the Clemson University student found dead in his fraternity house Sunday morning indicated that the 18-year-old died of alcohol poisoning.

Coroner Karl Addis said that tests indicated that Benjamin Garrison Sprague had an alcohol level of .379 percent. Fluid from Sprague's eye was used to test the alcohol level. Further blood alcohol level test will be performed by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.

Sprague was found just after 7:30 a.m. on a futon at the Sigma Nu fraternity house in Seneca. Investigators said Sprague attended a party at the fraternity house on Saturday.

University spokeswoman Robin Denny says the fraternity has been suspended while the sheriff's office and the State Law Enforcement Division investigate.

December 10, http://www.independentmail.com/news/2007/dec/10/details-sketchy-students-death/

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY — Authorities weren’t saying much about the investigation into the death of Ben Sprague, 18, a Clemson University freshman who was found dead at a fraternity house off campus on Sunday.

Oconee County authorities said Mr. Sprague was at a party at the Sigma Nu fraternity house on Saturday. Mr. Sprague’s only brother, Jay, a senior at Clemson, also was a member of Sigma Nu.

On Monday, vehicles blocked access to the fraternity house, keeping news media away from the scene. But the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division has been called in to determine what happened.

The Oconee County coroner has ruled the death as accidental, but said Mr. Sprague died of alcohol poisoning.

Dozens of people posted comments about Mr. Sprague on the popular social Web site Facebook, where he had a page. Many posted pictures of Mr. Sprague showing him in numerous social settings.

His cousin, Alyssa Sprague, wrote, “… You are amazing Ben and there will never be anyone else like you. I love you and miss you.”

“You were born with an uncanny ability to make people laugh, and to smile — and that is how I will always remember you, Ben,” wrote Adam Fort.

Leaders at Clemson Interfraternity Council could not be reached for comment on Monday. Clemson’s Sigma Nu Fraternity Chapter President Josh Bell said he did not want to comment on Mr. Sprague’s death, the fraternity’s history on the campus or what happened at the fraternity house the night before Mr. Sprague died.

“I am not going to take the opportunity to comment,” Mr. Bell said.

Mr. Sprague became a candidate for the Sigma Nu fraternity in the fall. Within the last month, he became a full member of the fraternity.

Clemson University spokeswoman Robin Denny said she did not have any further details about Mr. Sprague’s death — other than what was released by the Oconee County Coroner.

Sigma Nu has been a fraternity at Clemson University since 1970 and has 94 members. It was not known Monday whether Sigma Nu had ever been disciplined by the university in the past, Ms. Denny said.

Currently, the chapter is under interim suspension pending the outcome of the investigation. The national Sigma Nu chapter has also suspended the chapter’s activities for now, said Brad Beacham, the executive director of the Sigma Nu Fraternity Inc.

The national organization will conduct its own investigation into the matter, Mr. Beacham said. However, right now, he said national members are simply trying to support the fraternity and Mr. Sprague’s family members.

“We’ve got a lot of young men who are grieving right now,” Mr. Beacham said. “We are focused on supporting them and Ben’s family in the wake of this devastating loss.”

Mr. Sprague, the grandson of former legislator T. Ed Garrison, attended Greenville High School, where he played center for the football team and played on the soccer team.

In a statement, the family said today that they are focusing on Mr. Sprague’s life and not the way he died, said Jeff Dezen, a family spokesman and friend.

“We are devastated by our son’s death, yet remain focused on our son’s life,” the family said in a statement. “Ben touched many people, positively and joyfully, both at Clemson University and throughout Greenville.

“The circumstances of his passing should not overshadow the magnitude of his blessings,” according to the family statement.

A memorial service is planned at 2 p.m. Friday at Westminster Church on Augusta Street in Greenville, Mr. Dezen said.

Scholarship funds have been started through the Greenville High School All-Sports Booster Club and at Clemson through the Benjamin Garrison Sprague Memorial Scholarship Fund.

He is survived by his parents, Joel and Gaye Sprague, and his brother, Jay.

December 11, http://www.independentmail.com/news/2007/dec/11/oconee-sheriff-releases-call-911-clemson-students-/

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY — Tapes of the 911 call when Benjamin Garrison Sprague was found seem to indicate whoever found him did not think he was dead.

“He was drinking before, but now he’s just not responsive,” the caller said.

Benjamin Garrison Sprague, the grandson of former legislator T. Ed Garrison, was found dead Sunday morning in the Sigma Nu house off of Clemson University’s campus. Oconee County Coroner Karl Addis put the cause of death as alcohol poisoning. Mr. Sprague had a blood alcohol level of over 0.4 percent, he said. The legal limit is 0.08 percent.

In the tape, a young man’s voice is heard yelling “Sprague” in the background as another young male voice says, “One of our friends passed out and he’s not responding.”

According to the incident report from the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office, Chris Glass was the complainant.

When asked what happened that night, Mr. Glass refused to comment.

“I really don’t want to talk about it right now,” he said on Tuesday.

Oconee County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the incident around 7:45 a.m., after being called to assist EMS “due to an unresponsive intoxicated male.”

According to the incident report, he had been declared dead by EMS at that time, and was lying on his back on the floor of the lower level of the fraternity house.

Oconee County Coroner Karl Addis said Mr. Sprague was originally found by fraternity members on the futon, but that he was moved to the floor at some point during the incident.

Additionally, he said Sprague was last reported alive in the early morning hours.

He is survived by his parents, Joel and Gaye Sprague, and his brother, Jay.

In all cases, my deepest condolences to family and friends.

Underage Alcohol Deaths 2004
Underage Alcohol Deaths 2005
Underage Alcohol Deaths 2006

Signs of Alcohol Poisoning

Alcohol depresses nerves that control involuntary actions such as breathing, the heartbeat and the gag reflex that prevents choking. A fatal dose of alcohol will eventually stop these functions. After the victim stops drinking, the heart keeps beating, and the alcohol in the stomach continues to enter the bloodstream and circulate through the system. The victim may experience the following:

• Mental confusion, stupor, coma, unable to rouse the person
• No response to pinching the skin
• Vomiting while sleeping or unresponsive
• Seizures
• Slowed breathing  (fewer than 8 breaths per minute)
• Irregular breathing (10 seconds or more between breaths)
• Hypothermia (low body temperature), bluish skin color, paleness

Alcohol Poisoning Requires Immediate Medical Attention

Alcohol Poisoning Cannot Be Reversed By:

• Drinking black coffee
• Taking a cold bath or shower
• Walking it off

The victim must have immediate medical attention.
Call 911, stay with the victim to prevent him choking on vomit, and tell emergency personnel how much alcohol the victim drank.

These Children Died of Alcohol Overdose, So Their Parents Started Foundations:

Taylor Webster's memorial foundation.  Taylor died of alcohol  poisoning at age 19-- Now his family and friends are working  to get the message out, telling their stories and providing  information on alcohol poisoning and the signs and symtoms  of alcohol poisoning in hopes that lives will be saved.

Bradley McCue's memorial foundation.  On November 5, 1998  Bradley turned 21. . He celebrated  his birthday in a way that has become increasingly popular, drinking "his  age in shots". That amount of alcohol was lethal and he died  that night of alcohol poisoning.

Samantha Spady's memorial foundation. A 19-year old student at Colorado State University, Spady died of alcohol poisoning on September 5, 2004, "an unintentional tragedy."  The Spadys say the SAM [Student Alcohol Management] Spady Foundation will develop peer-to-peer counseling and other services meant to reduce the risk of alcohol abuse.

Gordie Bailey's memorial foundation.   The mission of the Gordie Foundation is to provide today’s youth with the skills to navigate the dangers of alcohol, and through education and promotion of self worth prevent alcohol poisoning, binge drinking and hazing.

Comments

[Karoli]

This makes me so sad. My heart goes out to his family and friends. How is it that this can be happening with what seems to be an escalated frequency?

[Liz]

Karoli, as I've said elsewhere, the estimated number of deaths from alcohol overdose in children under 21 is about 300, nationally, per year. To date this year I've seen 29 reports.

I suspect that public health authorities are getting more aggressive about releasing actual cause of death, rather than an actual increased incidence.

Each death is still a tragedy. I feel so sad for the family.