Clemson student died from head injury
Tucker Hipps’ autopsy revealed that the cause of death was an injury to the head consistent with an unsupported fall, FOX Carolina reported.
the injury is consistent with Hipps falling from spans just over 20 feet above the surface of Lake Hartwell, where Hipps’ body was found on Monday.
fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon, reported him missing at 1:45 p.m. on Monday after he participated in a morning run activity with members of the fraternity. He did not return from the run for breakfast, and several fraternity members went looking for him before calling the police.
in a rocky area underneath the Highway 93 bridge in about four or five feet of water. His body was pulled from the water around 5 p.m.
“We're terribly saddened by Tucker's death,” Clemson University vice president of student affairs Gail DiSabatino said. “It's always tragic when someone so young and promising is lost. Our hearts go out to his family and friends.”
said there is no reason to believe the death was a result of hazing. There have been several allegations on social media that hazing was involved. SigEp said that the fraternity has a zero tolerance policy for hazing.
said. “There are a lot of people who are hurting right now, that's our number one priority at the moment. But if foul play was involved in any way, Tucker’s fraternity will do everything it can to see that those responsible are brought to justice.”
All programming for Clemson’s chapter of fraternity has been suspended until further notice due to a request from the national office, and the presidents of the 24 fraternities in the Interfraternity Council have decided to suspend educational activities for pledges indefinitely.