From: Greenville (SC) News

Clemson student's alcohol level may have exceeded .4, coroner says
Sprague suffered respiratory cardiac arrest

By Anna Simon and Paul Alongi
STAFF WRITERS

An autopsy today found that the Clemson University freshman found dead after a party at Sigma Nu's fraternity house may have had a blood-alcohol level that exceeded 0.4 percent, Oconee County coroner Karl Addis said.

Benjamin Garrison Sprague, who was a Greenville High School graduate and the grandson of longtime state legislator T. Ed Garrison, died of respiratory arrest due to acute alcohol intoxication, Addis said.

A labratory test on fluid from Sprague's eye showed an alcohol conent of .379 percent, which indicates that he may have had a blood-alcohol level that surpassed 0.4 percent, he said. Testing the eye fluid, rather than the blood, provides a more accurate representation of the central nervous system's condition, Addis said.

Addis said he didn't believe Sprague's death was a result of hazing and didn't know of any drinking competition. Sprague, 18, arrived at the party showing signs of intoxication and probably continued drinking while there, Addis said.

Sprague was the grandson of Garrison, who served as a Democratic state representative and senator from 1959-1987.

Sprague, a general engineering major, graduated from Greenville High earlier this year and played center for the Red Raiders' football team, said family friend Jeff Dezen.

"Ben is one of the most brilliant, loving, kind young men I have ever known," Dezen said, "and I have known him since he was a little boy."

Sprague became the seventh Clemson student to die this semester and the second over the weekend.

Ralph Nathaniel Pinnock Jr., 21, lost control of his motorcycle and collided with a pickup on Highlands Highway near Walhalla about 1:20 p.m. Saturday, Addis said. Pinnock, of Columbia, was a senior majoring in chemical engineering, said university spokeswoman Robin Denny.

The university planned to offer counseling services to its 17,000 students, she said.

"This is exam week," Denny said. "It's an especially difficult time to be dealing with this very sad news."

The university placed Sigma Nu on interim suspension, pending the outcome an investigation by the school's Office of Community and Ethical Standards, Denny said. Sigma Nu's executive director in Lexington, Va., couldn't be reached Sunday night for comment.

The Oconee County Sheriff's Office is also investigating Sprague's death and has asked for help from the State Law Enforcement Division, said SLED Inspector Richard Hunton.

Sprague is the son of Joel and Gaye Sprague of Greenville and has an older brother, Jay, who also attends Clemson, Dezen said.

Garrison, who has a Clemson livestock arena named for him, owned Denver Downs Farm on Clemson Highway for years. His son Bart Garrison also a Clemson graduate, died in a silo accident on the family's farm in May 1990.

Sprague was an outstanding athlete and scholar, Dezen said. He played on the Red Raiders' soccer team. Greenville County Schools honored him for being one of 12 students who never missed a day of high school.

"In his intelligence, his spirit and his joy for life, Ben Sprague was a giant," Dezen said.