News Local/State

U Of I Student Dies After Fall During ‘Unofficial St. Patrick’s Day’

 
In this April 28, 2014 photo, students walk past the Alma Mater statue, a landmark on the University of Illinois campus in Urbana, Ill.

In this April 28, 2014 photo, students walk past the Alma Mater statue, a landmark on the University of Illinois campus in Urbana, Ill. David Mercer/AP

23-year-old Jonathan Morales died Friday night after falling from an apartment balcony on East John Street in Champaign. Champaign Police say preliminary information indicates that the fall was accidental.

Police say they received a call just after 10:30 pm that someone had fallen from the balcony.  When they arrived, they found Morales unresponsive. He was transported to Carle Foundation Hospital where he was pronounced dead just before midnight.

Friday was Unofficial St. Patrick's Day on the U of I Urbana campus, an annual drinking event that draws thousands of people. The News-Gazette reports that Morales' death was related to "Unofficial" activities. The event is not sanctioned by the university.

Morales was a senior at the University of Illinois, studying communications. He was a native of Franklin Park, Illinois.

Champaign police and the Champaign County cornoner's office continue to investigate this case. An autopsy is scheduled for later Saturday.