
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, September 28, 1995                   TAG: 9509280048
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE                                LENGTH: Short

CRASH AFTER PARTY SPURS FRATERNITY PROBE

The University of Virginia is investigating Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, after a fraternity member died in a car crash, to see if it violated a university rule banning alcohol at rush parties.

The fraternity vice president was charged with driving under the influence when his car left a gravel road early Friday and hit a tree after a rush party at a cabin in a remote area of Madison County.

Brian N. Cook, 21, of Billings, Mont., was returning from a party in a sport-utility vehicle driven by John Duncan of Alexandria around 3 a.m. Friday when Duncan swerved to miss a fallen tree branch and lost control. Cook, sitting in the back seat and wearing a seat belt, suffered severe head injuries and died Friday evening.

Under a contract between the university and the fraternities, all rush parties, at which the fraternities woo prospective members, are supposed to be alcohol-free, even if participants are at least 21.

- Associated Press

by CNB