The first question is who bought and served her the alcohol?

Previously we covered the ISU student's death from being struck by a train back in April. Toxicology reports are back from the lab and are reported to show her BAC as "more than twice the legal limit." The news report indicates sources identified her as having "spent time at Project 20-20, a bar allowing anyone 18 and older to get in." She was a 19-year-old architect student from Woodbridge, Virginia.

The second question is what did the bar do wrong?

My guess is the City fathers in Ames will visit with the owners of Project 20-20 about how this under-aged student got drunk and about the liquor license issued by the City of Ames. Questions will be raised about whether or not she had a valid ID or if other students bought and gave it to her. Let's assume the latter for a minute. Like the guy on the other end of the cell phone who knows their friend is texting and driving and then gets killed, there is a lifetime of asking yourself: "Why did I buy them booze that night? If I hadn’t, would they still be alive today?” If you buy alcohol for an underage person they become your liability, if not under the law, then at least in your conscience. You go to graduation and they aren’t there. You get married and they can’t attend. You have a baby and your friend lies buried six feet under.

The third question is do you need therapy?

There are other people besides the grieving parents who, in this instance suffer the consequences of buying booze for an underage coed. So think before you do something really stupid. It is fun and excited to be away from home during the first two years of college but you have to maintain some kind of decency to make through four-years without mental scars that will last a lifetime. Assuming we have some folks out there with consciences that are bothering them; get therapy and learn how to forgive yourself.

For additional reading see this post: Teen Safety: How much alcohol can you drink before killing ...  - 4/9/09 Posted on 5/17/2010; Ames Train Death Leaves a Lot of Questions... Posted on 4/29/2010; ISU student dies from what may be bacterial meningitis. ...
www.lombardilaw.com/.../teen-safety-how-much-alcohol-can-you-drink-before-killing-yourself.cfm - Cached