IU student dies after fall from balcony

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (WISH) - Police say an Indiana University student died from her injuries after she and her classmate fell from a first-story balcony during a party early Friday morning.

Monroe County Coroner Nicole Myer confirmed that Linden Whitt, 20, who graduated from Penn High School in 2010, died at 4:55 p.m. Saturday.

Police say 20-year-old Linden Whitt of Mishawaka and 20-year-old Joseph Lao were standing on the porch of her apartment on the 1300 block of N. Lincoln Avenue.

Witnesses told police Lao was sitting or leaning against the railing, and Whitt was standing in front of him, when Lao lost his balance and both fell off.

Witnesses said Lao fell on top of Whitt, and she was unresponsive and without a pulse when emergency crews arrived and began CPR.

The Monroe County coroner said Whitt died Saturday at 4:55 p.m. at IU Health in Bloomington, of injuries sustained in the fall.

Friends in Bloomington on Sunday told 24-Hour News 8 they were shocked to hear the news.

Brett LeClere said, “She's a really fun-spirited girl, and really friendly. She always came over to talk to us, to see what we were doing… She's really smart; she was in class with one of my roommates.”

Lao was also taken to IU Health in Bloomington and a spokesperson said his condition was unknown Sunday.

Police said they’re waiting for official toxicology reports before commenting on whether Whitt had been drinking alcohol.