Texas State University student John Patrick Fox, 26, died Sunday after falling from a ladder inside the Sky Spiral tower at the university’s Aquarena Center. Fox is the second student in two months at the school to die in a fall from an on-campus building.
Kyle Eulice Anderson, 24, was with Fox at the time and is now being charged with criminal trespassing, a class B misdemeanor that could mean a fine of up to $2,000, 180 days in jail or both. Police say public access to the 220-foot-tall building is limited.
A nearby resident contacted authorities upon seeing the two men on top of the tower at around 7:10 a.m., police say. Reports say when police arrived at the scene they attempted to communicate with the men, who then reentered the building to come down. Fox fell while climbing down and was pronounced dead at the scene at approximately 8:40 a.m.
Fox was a senior majoring in geography but was not enrolled in the current summer session.
In May, 24-year-old Texas State student and RA Erin Hicks died after jumping out of a Laurel Hall dorm room with two other students to avoid authorities who had arrived at an underage drinking party. Hicks died later of head trauma.
Texas State Associate Provost Eugene Bourgeois expressed his condolences in an interview with the San Marcos Mercury.
“This is a very sad situation and I would like to express my deepest sympathy on behalf of the Texas State community to the family and friends of John Patrick Fox,” Bourgeois said. “Unfortunately, this incident is a stark reminder of the precious but fragile nature of life.”
Sources:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/14/john-patrick-fox-texas-st_n_876…
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/7609470.html
http://smmercury.com/19801/student-dies-in-fall-from-aquarena-tower/