A tragic incident occurred at Ohio State University’s graduation ceremony on Sunday when an individual fell from the stadium stands and was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident happened around 12:30 p.m., as reported by the local police radio. The identity of the deceased, as well as the circumstances leading to the fall, remain unclear.
The university’s spokesperson, Ben Johnson, confirmed the incident, stating, “An individual fell from the stands. They are deceased.” He added that the police and emergency responders were on the scene, but no further details were available at the time. The university is prepared to provide counseling and other support resources for those affected by the incident.
Witnesses at the scene reported that the fall occurred just as the last of the graduates were passing by the area. The incident visibly upset some students who were present during the unfortunate event.
Despite the tragic occurrence, the graduation ceremony, which had started at noon, continued without interruption. The commencement speakers did not acknowledge the incident during their speeches.
As the ceremony concluded, students were seen leaving the venue, walking past the cordoned-off area where the incident took place. The area was still marked off with yellow police tape, serving as a grim reminder of the tragedy that had unfolded earlier.
Ohio State University has yet to respond to requests for comments regarding the incident.