October 13, 2001
A 19-year old visitor to the URI Kingston Campus apparently fell from a fourth floor balcony early Saturday morning and sustained serious, fatal injuries. He was later pronounced dead at South County Hospital.
URI police received a request for an ambulance at 5:53 a.m. Saturday, indicating that a young man might have fallen off a residence hall balcony. The investigation is still continuing as to the cause of death.
Four URI police officers responded to the call. The young man was found on the pavement in front of Ellery Hall, in the Roger Williams residential complex. The first two police officers on site administered CPR. Two ambulances arrived on the site, the URI ambulance and an advanced life support system ambulance.
The young man, identified as 19-year-old Steven DiMartino from Wethersfield, CT., was not a URI student, but visiting a URI student who lived in Tower B, Ellery Hall. He was found by police unattended and was apparently last seen after 3 a.m. in one of the residence hall rooms.
Although the incident is still under active investigation, the circumstances would appear to indicate that this was a tragic accident. From initial inquiries made by URI police, it also appears that alcohol was involved.
Police notified the medical examiner’s office and contacted the Rhode Island state police to assist in the investigation.
The Wethersfield Connecticut Police Department notified next of kin.
The directors of URI’s counseling center and residential life were both on campus to meet with the victim’s friends and family. Grief counselors have been made available to the residents who knew the young man and are available to anyone else who may need their services.
In a notice to the residents of Ellery, Chip Yensan, director of residential life, said, “We join together in offering our thoughts and prayers to the young mans family and friends.”
For more information: Linda A. Acciardo, 474-7057
A 19-year old visitor to the URI Kingston Campus apparently fell from a fourth floor balcony early Saturday morning and sustained serious, fatal injuries. He was later pronounced dead at South County Hospital.
URI police received a request for an ambulance at 5:53 a.m. Saturday, indicating that a young man might have fallen off a residence hall balcony. The investigation is still continuing as to the cause of death.
Four URI police officers responded to the call. The young man was found on the pavement in front of Ellery Hall, in the Roger Williams residential complex. The first two police officers on site administered CPR. Two ambulances arrived on the site, the URI ambulance and an advanced life support system ambulance.
The young man, identified as 19-year-old Steven DiMartino from Wethersfield, CT., was not a URI student, but visiting a URI student who lived in Tower B, Ellery Hall. He was found by police unattended and was apparently last seen after 3 a.m. in one of the residence hall rooms.
Although the incident is still under active investigation, the circumstances would appear to indicate that this was a tragic accident. From initial inquiries made by URI police, it also appears that alcohol was involved.
Police notified the medical examiner’s office and contacted the Rhode Island state police to assist in the investigation.
The Wethersfield Connecticut Police Department notified next of kin.
The directors of URI’s counseling center and residential life were both on campus to meet with the victim’s friends and family. Grief counselors have been made available to the residents who knew the young man and are available to anyone else who may need their services.
In a notice to the residents of Ellery, Chip Yensan, director of residential life, said, “We join together in offering our thoughts and prayers to the young mans family and friends.”
For more information: Linda A. Acciardo, 474-7057