BLOOMINGTON, Ill., Oct. 2 (UPI) -- An Illinois college student was badly burned after falling into a bonfire at a sorority party, police said.
Lauren Bucaro, 21, a student at Illinois State University, attended a barn dance at a farm organized by the Gamma Phi Beta sorority, though she was not a member, police said. The farm owner said he did not see Bucaro go into the fire, but was told she slipped, The (Bloomington, Ill.) Pantagraph reported Tuesday. Her status was not available after being admitted at Loyola University Hospital.
McLean County Sheriff Mike Emery said Bucaro was drunk when she fell into the fire, with a blood-alcohol content of 0.14 percent, nearly twice the legal limit for driving. Emery said alcohol and an uncontrolled rural destination party can be a dangerous mix.
"The potential is always there when you don't have proper supervision to ensure that underage drinking and over-intoxication aren't taking place," Emery said. "In the most recent case, we are investigating to see if any criminal offenses were involved that may be reviewed by the state's attorney's office."
About 200 college students traveled to the rural farm for the weekend on buses for a party boasting, "privacy, security, domestic farm animals 'as an attraction,' bonfires and hay rack rides," the newspaper reported.
