Student dies after fall from balcony

IU student Linden Whitt was confirmed dead Saturday afternoon after she sustained injuries in a fall from a balcony early Friday morning.

Whitt, 20, and IU student Joseph Lao, 20, were transported to IU Health Bloomington Hospital after they fell from a balcony near the intersection of East 17th and North Lincoln streets at about 3 a.m. Friday, Capt. Joe Qualters of the Bloomington Police Department said in a press release.

Whitt was in the Critical Care Unit until her death Saturday. No information was available from Bloomington Hospital or BPD about Lao's injuries.

She was declared dead at approximately 4:55 p.m. Saturday by Monroe County Coroner Nicole Myer.

One witness reported to Bloomington police that Whitt and Lao were on the balcony and leaning against the railing. Lao reportedly lost his balance while Whitt was standing in front of him, and they both fell over the railing to the ground. According to the release, the same witness said Lao may have landed on top of Whitt, who the witness said hit the ground first.

When officers and other emergency personnel arrived at the scene, Whitt did not have a pulse and was unresponsive, so BPD officers and other first responders began performing CPR on her. Whitt had sustained injuries to her neck.

— Michael Auslen