Benjamin Harris Dead: University Of Idaho Student Dies Of Apparent Alcohol Poisoning On 21st Birthday

MOSCOW, Idaho — Police say a University of Idaho senior died of respiratory arrest, apparently due to alcohol poisoning after a night of drinking to celebrate his 21st birthday.

Emergency personnel responded to a report of an unconscious man at Sigma Nu fraternity at 2:42 a.m. Tuesday. They located Benjamin Harris of Burley on the third floor and began CPR. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Gritman Medical Center.

Assistant Police Chief David Duke says Harris may have had as many as 15 shots in two-and-a-half hours as he celebrated his birthday Monday night.

A preliminary investigation indicated Harris died of respiratory arrest caused by alcohol poisoning. The cause of death will be determined by the medical examiner after review of the toxicology reports.

Comments

[LightShadow62]

12:08 PM on 07/14/2010

Candidate for the Darwin Awards.

[BrooklynChef]

11:40 AM on 07/14/2010

lightweight.

[Tacking it Easy]

10:10 AM on 07/14/2010

Here's a thought that randomly popped into my head (don't crucify me for it). If we lowered the drinking age to 18: Most kids turn 18 while they are still in high school. I would think it would be easier to control 18th birthday binge drinking than 21st birthday binge drinking as most kids would probably be in school, still living at home, and both the parents and school could control this event with more scrutiny.

[disintaGreatNation]

09:59 AM on 07/14/2010

How many college students die of marijuana poisoning?

[SiO2]

08:38 AM on 07/14/2010

So sad.

Although it will never happen, I still believe the drinking age should be lowered.

Not too long ago I had a young girl, aged 18, stay with me for a few weeks from France. She had been drinking alcohol since she could remember. Well, she went to her first American club and lo and behold --- she got wasted. She'd never abused alcohol before and didn't know her limit, and she couldn't tell me how much she had to drink (only that it was whiskey) when I was trying to take care of her in her drunken stupor. Poor thing literally thought she was dying, and I had to constantly remind her that she was just drunk.

I know this story isn't too relevant, but anyway... only in America.

[SiO2]

08:40 AM on 07/14/2010

I'm sorry, young woman*

[elan4444]

01:19 AM on 07/14/2010

When is this going to stop? After getting into a university, to die of alcohol poisoning. Evidently we need mentors to intervene.

[The Truth Seeker]

10:41 PM on 07/13/2010

I'm guessing if he could he would reevaluate the pros and cons of binge drinking.

[hagagaga]

08:55 PM on 07/13/2010

idiot

[StephenHIII]

08:00 PM on 07/13/2010

15 shots yikes I only take 6 and I cut myself off.

[rjmtx]

06:58 PM on 07/13/2010

To bad he died, but that's the risk you take when you guzzle down large amounts of poison. It also make you feel good.

On my 21st, in a blackout I apparently stood on the back of a couch and tried to kick the ceiling. I remember hitting the ground and nothing else before or after. I woke up with a broken nose with an Australia-shaped abrasion on it. Those were the days...

[Rictus Grin]

06:09 PM on 07/13/2010

Perhaps if we had de-mystified alcohol and Attainment Of Age 21, this wouldn't have happened.

Or maybe he was just really dumb.

[Darkduck]

07:53 PM on 07/13/2010

You don't really believe he had never had alcohol before this... he was in a fraternity. On top of that, imagine how stupid these kids would get if they were doing it at 18... or even 15. Its more the way its treated in the family than it is legal age.

[am10]

10:46 AM on 07/14/2010

I don't think things are much different than when the drinking age was 18.

[gtjs289]

04:38 PM on 07/13/2010

So dumb. I turned 21 once too. But truth been told, that wasn't the first time I had alcohol. I bet that is the same for most people. So why do people who have already been consuming alcohol all of a sudden feel the need to go overboard when they turn "legal"? too bad.....

[Angelus2007]

08:08 PM on 07/13/2010

Also what is the point of being "legal" and drinking where you drank illegally before, the best part on my 21st birthday was going to the bar with my license and drinking. At least there, he would've probably been cut off before it was too late.

[FZliveson]

04:34 PM on 07/13/2010

Pity that.
I did a lot of drinking in college too..... Spañada, Rainier Ale Old Stock (The GREEN DEATH)
Colt 45 Malt Liquor and, of course Tequila. Out of the thousands of students who drank at my college none died from alcohol poisoning (then.) May be a few who died in later years from the effects. Too bad for the lad. This is no crime and is not worthy of a big investigation. He was 21 and he couldn't hold his booze. RIP lad.