Drunken student discovered 'near death'

Officers found the drunken student with a 14-inch cut on his head after a Pike fraternity member called university police at 3:30 a.m., said Chief Harry Hueston of the University of Arizona Police Department.

Hueston said the student had such a high level of intoxication that "he was near death".

The student's identity had not been released as of yesterday.

Pike President Doug Lipsky said one of his members found the student at the house and then awakened Lipsky. The two then called university police and paramedics.

Lipsky, a political science junior, said yesterday the student had not been drinking at the fraternity house, 1340 E. First St., and was not known by any of the house members.

Hueston said officers notified paramedics who took the student to UMC.

"Due to the state of intoxication there was not a lot more we could do," Hueston said.

"He had something in a very high alcohol level," Hueston said. "It was probably close to alcohol poisoning."

Officers are treating the incident as a first aid case until they determine whether a crime occurred, he added.

"We will follow up with him tomorrow," Hueston said. "He may not remember anything because of his level of intoxication."

Hueston said officers will make attempts to find witnesses to the incident as well.

"He has a 14-inch gash on his face," Hueston said. " Someone might know something."

Hueston said the student was held at UMC on Saturday but did not know his condition.