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Fraternity Suspended After UNC Charlotte Student Killed Falling Out Of Party Bus

The Kappa Sigma fraternity house near UNC Charlotte.
Nick de la Canal
/
WFAE
The Kappa Sigma fraternity house near UNC Charlotte.

A local chapter of the Kappa Sigma fraternity at UNC Charlotte has been temporarily suspended pending an investigation into the death of a female student who fell off a party bus into traffic this week.

Polly Rogers
Credit Courtesy of the Rogers Family
Polly Rogers

The student, 20-year-old Polly Rogers, had boarded the bus at an off-campus house on Mallard Creek Church Road along with dozens of other revelers on their way to a bar in uptown Charlotte Tuesday night.

As the bus was driving by the intersection of North Tryon Street and Sugar Creek Road around 10:30 p.m., an emergency window opened and Rogers fell into the street. She was struck by two cars.

Several media outlets report that the Charlotte Party Charter bus had been rented by the fraternity. Multiple people onboard had been drinking, according to a police report. Police could not immediately determine whether Rogers had been drinking.

In a statement, the national Kappa Sigma fraternity said they were suspending the local Kappa-Omega chapter pending an internal investigation.

“The Brothers of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Polly Rogers. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Rogers family and to her loved ones,” the statement read. “We are in the process of conducting an investigation of the event on Tuesday evening. The Kappa Sigma Fraternity will fully cooperate with all investigations of the University and local authorities.”

In dispute is how the bus's emergency window was opened. Vic Rabb, owner of Charlotte Party Charters, told WFAE the window had been opened by passengers. A father of another passenger who was aboard the bus told WSOC that the window was faulty.

“The girl leaned against the window – which evidently was an emergency exit window – and my son says the latches were broke, evidently, and she fell out,” the man said.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is investigating the incident. No charges have yet been filed.

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Nick de la Canal is an on air host and reporter covering breaking news, arts and culture, and general assignment stories. His work frequently appears on air and online. Periodically, he tweets: @nickdelacanal