A sophomore at the University of Washington slipped and hit her head Wednesday while walking on campus — and later died as a result, according to cops.
UW police: These “sidewalk closed” signs were put out after the student slipped & hit her head — police said she did not fall on a closed sidewalk. We still have questions out to the university but I’m LIVE 5p 📲 https://t.co/NyrmuY3h0n w/ know we know so far. @KIRO7Seattlepic.twitter.com/jetgJcx8h8
— Michael Spears (@MichaelKIRO7) February 7, 2019
“We are all deeply stunned by this unfortunate accident,” said a UW police spokesperson. “The cause of the fall has not been determined.”
Cops told The Post that the 19-year-old student was walking on a sidewalk near one of UW’s most iconic spots — Drumheller Fountain — when she somehow lost her footing.
Photos and video posted on Twitter show large patches of ice scattered throughout campus.
Paramedics rushed to the scene of the fall at around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday and transported the young woman to a local hospital with a “serious head injury,” according to cops.
“Sadly, she passed away,” said the UW police spokesperson. “UWPD Detectives are investigating the incident.”
Local reporter Michael Spears tweeted out two pictures on Wednesday night showing “sidewalk closed” signs at various locations on campus.
Police told him that the signs were put out after the student slipped and said she “did not fall on a closed sidewalk.” University officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment, however, UW President Ana Mari Cauce did offer up a statement on Twitter.
“My heart goes out to the family of the student who died as the result of a fall on campus,” she said. “All of us at the University of Washington are grieving this terrible tragedy with them. Student safety is our number one priority, and UWPD is investigating the exact cause of the accident.”
