UW student dies after fall from fraternity house 3rd-floor window

A 21-year-old University of Washington student who fell from the third-floor window of a fraternity house died Saturday evening at Harborview Medical Center.

The victim was identified by KING-TV as Kevin MacDonald of Kent.

Seattle police said the man had fallen headfirst onto concrete on the morning of graduation day.

Police and emergency medical crews were called to the Alpha Sigma Phi house at 4:27 a.m., after the injured man was found outside. Police do not believe anyone witnessed the fall, which appeared to be "a tragic accident," said police spokesman Mark Jamieson.

People who were in the house told police the student had been drinking earlier, Jamieson said. Seattle police are investigating in cooperation with UW police.

The fraternity's brick colonial mansion with white pillars is a block north of the UW campus, in the 4500 block of 19th Avenue Northeast.

A sign posted on the door read, "Closed house — No member is permitted to speak to the media at this time. Please respect our fraternity's privacy as we tend to this matter."

Norm Arkans, a UW spokesman, said, "We're focused on this young man ... and his family right now."

The accident follows the April 25 death of another UW fraternity member, Phi Gamma Delta brother Chase Anderson, who collided with a Metro Transit bus in the University District while riding a longboard skateboard.

"That was a huge blow to the community," said Beta Theta Pi President Kyle Thomas. "For something like this to happen to the community again is very unfortunate. You can only wish the best for the family and for the people in the house."

This was not the first time a UW student has fallen from a frat house. Brett Jensen died in 2002 after falling about 30 feet from a deck at Pi Kappa Phi. Beta Theta Pi pledge Brian Patrick Lopez fell to his death in 1987 from that frat house's roof.

In 2004, the UW suspended its recognition of Alpha Sigma Phi, where the Saturday incident occurred, after two members taunted a student who had complained about hazing that allegedly including forced consumption of alcohol, forced consumption of food rubbed on a body part and other questionable practices.

UW spokesman Bob Roseth said Saturday that the university has since restored Alpha Sigma Phi's recognition.

A 24-year-old student was arrested during a party at Alpha Sigma Phi in 2007 after he allegedly assaulted two women in what police called an alcohol-fueled attack.

Seattle Times reporters Nick Perry and Jack Broom contributed to this report.