According to the toxicology results released on Tuesday by the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Polly Rogers, under the influence of alcohol, fell out of an emergency window of a Charlotte party bus on May 1.
According to the report, Rogers was driving in North Carolina with a blood alcohol content that was more than double the legal limit of .19, but she was not driving at that time.
Rogers fell onto the roadways of North Tryon Street and was hit by two vehicles. She passed away at the scene.
[IMAGES: Woman deceased following a fatal incident of falling from a party bus in northeast Charlotte].
The unusual incident took place at approximately 10:25 p.M. On North Tryon Street close to the intersection of Sugar Creek Road in the northeastern part of Charlotte.
The person responsible for the inquiry informed Channel 9 that the demise of Rogers should convey a strong message to others.
Mike Crowley from the Mecklenburg County ABC stated, “If the individual is not of legal age, it would be unwise to supply alcohol to anyone.” “I recommend that you allow that individual to obtain alcohol from another source. This advice is especially relevant if you are a college student who is 21 years old or older.”
When questioned about the possibility of someone being charged in this matter, Crowley replied, “Certainly.”
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“They never anticipate that something tragic like this is going to happen,” Crowley stated.
He mentioned that they have interviewed approximately 20 students who were aboard the bus and they intend to communicate with additional individuals.
“Crowley stated that if someone intentionally supplied her with alcohol, knowing that she is under the legal drinking age of 21, then certainly, we will hold them accountable.”
Observers stated that the situation was disorderly.
Juan Vasquez exclaimed, “Continuously driving, everyone was compelled to keep driving. Summon an ambulance! Dial 911. Decelerate, decelerate, halt, halt, halt, shouting ensued and I didn’t know where to go.
Rogers grew up in Charlotte and graduated from Myers Park High School. She was a member of the Alpha Tau Zeta sorority and a student at UNCC. Authorities said the bus was on its way to a bar in uptown Charlotte from UNC.
[IMAGES: Polly Rogers, UNCC student deceased after accidently falling from party bus].
Charlotte police cited the owner of the bus after investigators discovered that the bus did not have its fictitious license plate and insurance.
The Highway Patrol’s motor carrier unit, which dedicated four hours to thoroughly inspecting the bus, documented several issues in their inspection report. These included an oil leak in the engine, tires that were balding, the absence of warning devices, a discharged fire extinguisher, malfunctioning windshield wipers, unmarked emergency exits, and numerous violations.
The state police officers also noted that the bus was not officially enrolled with the state. These violations could lead to fines surpassing $1,500.
It’s still uncertain how Rogers tumbled out of the bus and into the flow of vehicles on North Tryon Street.
Pierce, a spokesperson for the Highway Patrol, stated that although none of the infractions would have directly led to the accident, they are significant enough to warrant the removal of the bus from service. Additionally, Pierce confirmed that there were no issues with the latch on the emergency window.
“The owner of the bus, Victor Rabb, stated that he willingly handed over the vehicle to the Motor Carrier Division of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol to enable state investigators to examine the vehicle for any potential equipment infractions,” reported Charlotte-Mecklenburg police.
Rabb informed Channel 9 that he couldn’t explain the reason behind the insurance not being current.
“We’re merely attempting to navigate it,” Rabb expressed. “It’s genuinely devastating. We have no statement at this juncture.”
Court documents indicate that Rabb has previously encountered comparable accusations.
In 2012, prosecutors dropped charges of fake license plate and driving without insurance.
One year later, he admitted his guilt for the inappropriate utilization of a dealer permit or tag.
A report released earlier this month by CMPD stated that several individuals on the bus were consuming alcoholic beverages.
The Sigma Kappa chapter at UNC Charlotte has been suspended by the national organization pending an investigation into Rogers’ death. The bus was rented by the fraternity.
Mitchell Wilson, the executive director of the Kappa Sigma fraternity, stated, “Both the University and local authorities will fully cooperate with the investigations involving the fraternity Sigma Kappa.”