Rider student dies in binge drinking incident

Gary DeVercelly, a freshman at Rider University, died Friday morning after being admitted to the hospital Thursday after heavy drinking.

By: Ledger Staff
Gary DeVercelly, an 18-year-old freshman at Rider University in Lawrence Township, died at 10:50 a.m. Friday at Capital Health System’s Fuld Campus, according to Casey DeBlasio, a spokesperson for the Mercer County prosecutor’s office.
As of Friday afternoon, no official cause of death had been announced, Ms. DeBlasio said. The Mercer County prosecutor’s office and the Lawrence Township Police Department were investigating the possibility that the incident had been the result of a hazing at a Rider fraternity.
Mordechai Rozanski, president of Rider University, issued a statement, calling Mr. DeVercelly’s death "tragic."
"I know I speak for the entire Rider community when I extend my heartfelt sympathy to Gary’s family," he said in the statement.
Lawrence police were dispatched to the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity house at Rider’s Lawrence campus at 1:52 a.m. Thursday on the report of an individual who was vomiting from drinking alcohol and needed to go to the hospital, according to a statement released by the prosecutor’s office.
Mr. DeVercelly, of Long Beach, Calif., was transported to Capital Health System’s Fuld Campus, where he was listed in critical condition until the time of his death.
A second university student who had left the Phi Kappa Tau fratnernity house earlier in the evening was also taken to the hospital and treated for alcohol poisoning. He has since been released.
A memorial service was being planned for Saturday at Rider University. Details would be made available at the school’s Web site, www.rider.edu.