Coroner: Fentanyl, Alcohol Killed South Carolina Student

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Alcohol and the highly effective opioid fentanyl killed a pupil from South Carolina who was left at a hospital after watching parades 10 days earlier than Mardi Gras, the Orleans Parish Coroner’s Workplace reported Thursday.

“The household of Ciaya Whetstone is saddened by the knowledge contained within the coroner’s report … and distraught that their daughter could have been the sufferer of a spiked substance,” stated a press release by attorneys for the household of the Bamberg, South Carolina, pupil.

Attorneys Justin Bamberg, L. Chris Stewart, Brandon DeCuir and Michael Adams stated they want details about an Uber driver who reportedly drove the 21-year-old College of New Orleans pupil from Bamberg, South Carolina, to search for her automobile.

“They wish to know what the Uber driver did as he witnessed a passenger dying, and why he by no means referred to as 911 as he witnessed a medical emergency,” the assertion stated. “Uber nonetheless has not launched any data to the household, so we’re compelled to file our lawsuit.”

Uber stated Thursday that it can not touch upon pending litigation.

The corporate has given police requested details about the driving force, car and GPS journey information, in keeping with emailed data from the corporate. The assertion stated police will resolve whether or not to launch that data to Wheatstone’s household or the general public.

The corporate forbids contact with passengers after their journeys, and its security crew has eliminated the driving force’s entry to the app, the assertion stated.

The coroner’s workplace stated Whetstone died about 7 a.m. on Feb. 19 at a hospital in japanese New Orleans.

That is on the opposite aspect of the town from suburban Metairie, the place information retailers reported she had watched parades earlier than going out with mates. Her roommate advised The Instances-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate in February that after returning dwelling through Uber to verify on her canine, she went again out with the identical driver, saying she needed to search for her automobile.

“This coroner’s report merely confirmed what we already suspected: she died of an overdose and her Uber driver didn’t take applicable motion,” the legal professionals stated.

The assertion continued, “We’re ready for legislation enforcement and Uber to supply extra particulars that can present this household with the true data they want.”

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