BEREA, Ohio — Baldwin Wallace University confirms four of its students as well as one alumnus were taken to the hospital after apparently overdosing on drugs this past weekend.
School officials say the incident occurred at an off-campus event on Sunday. Three of the individuals involved have since been released from care, while two others remain hospitalized in stable condition.
"BW's immediate priority has been to support the students and their families," a university spokesperson said. "We're thankful they received excellent medical care."
Paramedics from Berea, Brook Park, Middleburg Heights, Parma Heights, Olmsted Falls, and other agencies rushed to the house on University Avenue in Berea.
The 911 dispatcher can be heard desperately trying to get any sober people there to perform CPR, but there's chaos.
"You guys are my heart right now," the dispatcher tells the callers as she tries to provide instructions.
3News has learned all five of the men were members of Baldwin Wallace's 2023 men's lacrosse team. Two are still on the Yellow Jackets' roster while two more are still enrolled at the university but left the team following the season. The fifth person graduated in the spring.
"Recognizing that the misuse of alcohol and other drugs poses a risk to health and safety, BW has a legacy of promoting healthy behaviors related to alcohol and other drugs," BW's statement continued. "The University's approach emphasizes education to transform behaviors toward healthy decision-making. As a result, the University works every year to provide education and prevention programming."
Baldwin Wallace adds it is investigating to see if any students violated its code of conduct, and counselors have scheduled a meeting with others who were at the house to help learn what happened. Berea police are also looking into any potential criminal charges.
