University of Kentucky student dies after being found unresponsive at frat house

A University of Kentucky student was pronounced dead at a Lexington hospital after being found unresponsive at a fraternity house Monday night, a spokesperson for the university announced Tuesday. 

A coroner ruled that 18-year-old Thomas “Lofton” Hazelwood’s death as accidental and likely caused by alcohol toxicity, according to WDRB News. 

Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful and he was pronounced as deceased early yesterday evening. Foul play is not suspected, but police are investigating the circumstances of his death.

— University of Kentucky (@universityofky) October 19, 2021

University spokesman Jay Blanton said Hazelwood was a first-year student majoring in agricultural economics and a member of the FarmHouse Fraternity.

Cody Cramer, the FarmHouse fraternity’s national assistant executive director, told The Hill it was “deeply saddened” to learn of Hazelwood’s death. 

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and loved ones as well as the entire community. We have encouraged all members and new members to cooperate with any investigation prompted by Mr. Hazelwood’s death,” he said. 

When contacted for comment, University of Kentucky’s Interfraternity Council—which manages the UK Farmhouse chapter—directed The Hill to a university statement on the incident.

“Lofton was a first-year student majoring in Agricultural Economics and was a member of FarmHouse Fraternity,” the university statement said. “The thoughts of the entire UK community are with his family and all those who knew him.”

Fraternities have come under increasing scrutiny in recent years due to a culture that critics say encourages excessive drinking and sexual violence. 

There were two fraternity deaths in Ohio and Virginia earlier this year, and 15 fraternity members in Washington were charged in June for a 2019 hazing death.