Water Intoxication?!?

[gregorylee]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/10/30/fraternity.death.ap/index.html



4 fraternity members sentenced in hazing death

Sunday, October 30, 2005; Posted: 9:02 a.m. EST (14:02 GMT)


Hazing University Trials
start quote I'm glad they stood up and took responsibility for what they did.end quote
-- Debbie Smith, victim's mother

OROVILLE, California (AP) -- Four fraternity members pleaded guilty in the death of a college student who was forced to drink large amounts of water during an initiation rite.

Under the plea deals reached Friday, all four men will serve time.

Prosecutors said Matthew Carrington, 21, died of heart failure caused by water intoxication after he and another pledge were ordered to drink water from five-gallon jugs and douse themselves as fans blasted them with cold air in the basement of the now-defunct Chi Tau fraternity.

California State University, Chico, had already cut its ties to Chi Tau in 2002 for alcohol violations. Carrington's death last February led to a push for an alcohol ban for all fraternities and sororities on campus.

Gabriel Maestretti, 22, pleaded guilty to the most serious charges -- involuntary manslaughter and misdemeanor hazing. He received a one-year sentence, the Butte County District Attorney said.

John Paul Fickes, 20, and Jerry Lim, 25, each pleaded guilty to being an accessory to manslaughter and to misdemeanor hazing and will serve six months. Carlos Devilla Abrille, 22, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor hazing and was sentenced to 90 days. Maestretti, Fickes and Lim were also sentenced to five years probation, and Abrille to three years probation.

Butte County Superior Court Judge Robert Glusman had considered a torture charge, which carries a potential life sentence.

"I'm glad they stood up and took responsibility for what they did. I'm proud of them for that," said Carrington's mother, Debbie Smith.

Earlier this month, another man involved in the case, Michael Fernandez, 19, pleaded no contest to hazing and was sentenced to 30 days in jail. Two other fraternity members -- Richard Hirth, 22, and Trent Stiefvater, 20 -- still face misdemeanor hazing charges and are scheduled to appear in court November 23.


I have never heard of such a thing...

 

[martinss01]

yep, proof positive that to much of anything is bad for you.

"In the current issue of Annals of Internal of Medicine, investigators report ( Report 1 and Report 2) on marathon runners who developed brain swelling as a result of "water intoxication." All had taken in too much water during their races, causing sodium levels in the blood to drop."

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/hydration/a/aa051200.htm

 

[scarletandgrey]

Huh...In defense of the guys that were doing the hazing, they had to of thought that making them drink large amounts of water and blowinf cold fans on them would do nothing but make the guys piss thier pants or something of those sorts. Causing the death of someone was definately not in thier plans.

 

[Pheasant]

Prosecutors said Matthew Carrington, 21, died of heart failure caused by water intoxication after he and another pledge were ordered to drink water from five-gallon jugs and douse themselves as fans blasted them with cold air in the basement of the now-defunct Chi Tau fraternity.

Carrington's death last February led to a push for an alcohol ban for all fraternities and sororities on campus.

 

[gregorylee]

yep, proof positive that to much of anything is bad for you.

"In the current issue of Annals of Internal of Medicine, investigators report ( Report 1 and Report 2) on marathon runners who developed brain swelling as a result of "water intoxication." All had taken in too much water during their races, causing sodium levels in the blood to drop."

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/hydration/a/aa051200.htm

Thanks Martins

I was too lazy to look it up. It makes sense that much water would dilute everything in your system but I would never have thought it could kill someone.