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American Morning
Hazing Death?
Aired October 24, 2003 - 07:06 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Police in Plymouth, New Hampshire are investigating whether or not a hazing prank led to the death of a college student. Twenty-year-old Kelly Nester was killed on Monday, when an SUV carrying her and nine other students from Plymouth State ran off the road. Investigators believe the driver may have swerved the car intentionally as a scare tactic for the girls who were pledging a sorority.
Just a bit earlier today, I talked with Richard Hage. He's the vice president for student Affairs. And the police chief there is Tony Raymond.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: Chief Raymond, was this a case of hazing?
CHIEF TONY RAYMOND, PLYMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE POLICE: We're still looking into that. We have several people we still need to talk to, but some of the information we're receiving suggests that could be a possibility.
HEMMER: Were all the women in that car blindfolded?
RAYMOND: No, that is not correct. We do know that some of them were, that they were pledges, but we haven't spoken with everyone in the vehicle yet.
HEMMER: It's my understanding there were 10 young women inside that jeep. Is that accurate? And if so, of the 10, how many were wearing blindfolds?
RAYMOND: First of all, you are accurate, and we believe it was possible around six of them were.
HEMMER: Do you believe right now swerving was the cause for this crash?
RAYMOND: We've received some reports that erratic operation or swerving could have been involved, and we're certainly looking into that
HEMMER: To the vice president, Richard Hage. Tell us, if this was indeed a hazing incident, how common is that on your campus?
RICHARD HAGE, V.P., STUDENT AFFAIRS, PLYMOUTH STATE UNIV.: Hazing at this level is not common at all. Hazing is something that the university is very interested in finding out from Chief Raymond's investigation, and we'll follow up with the judicial process as soon as we have the facts of this case.
HEMMER: There's a funeral today. How are the other women doing?
HAGE: It's a very sad day. They're not doing well. People are in shock over the loss of Kelly, and our hearts go to the whole family. And we're focusing first on the memorial that we'll have here at the university as well, and then we're going to turn to the investigation.
HEMMER: As a representative for the university, what can the school do in cases like this?
HAGE: If the rumors that we're hearing, and as you've heard from Chief Raymond, if these turn out to be facts, then the outcome is likely to be suspension or expulsion from the university.
HEMMER: Back to the chief, if I could, for a moment here. Was weather a factor in this?
RAYMOND: I'm sorry?
HEMMER: Was weather a factor in this crash?
RAYMOND: There was some rain at the time. And we're having what we refer to as a vehicle autopsy, which will be done on Monday, and we're going to look at that vehicle to see if it was mechanically sound and if the weather conditions had or played a part in any -- at any level. But so far we don't know.
HEMMER: Chief, were the roads wet that day?
RAYMOND: They were, but not in any excessive way.
HEMMER: Will charges be brought at this point?
RAYMOND: It's too early to say, but we're going to be thorough. We're going to complete the interview process. We're going to speak with our county attorney, and we're going to be responsible about presenting all the facts and holding people accountable.
HEMMER: Mr. Hage, tell us about Kelly. What kind of a student, what kind of a woman was she?
HAGE: Kelly was a very bright and shining star on this campus, and it's a deep loss, especially to the family.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: There were no eyewitnesses to that crash on Monday evening about 9:30 Eastern Time. And, again the interviews will continue on Monday in New Hampshire.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired October 24, 2003 - 07:06 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Police in Plymouth, New Hampshire are investigating whether or not a hazing prank led to the death of a college student. Twenty-year-old Kelly Nester was killed on Monday, when an SUV carrying her and nine other students from Plymouth State ran off the road. Investigators believe the driver may have swerved the car intentionally as a scare tactic for the girls who were pledging a sorority.
Just a bit earlier today, I talked with Richard Hage. He's the vice president for student Affairs. And the police chief there is Tony Raymond.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: Chief Raymond, was this a case of hazing?
CHIEF TONY RAYMOND, PLYMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE POLICE: We're still looking into that. We have several people we still need to talk to, but some of the information we're receiving suggests that could be a possibility.
HEMMER: Were all the women in that car blindfolded?
RAYMOND: No, that is not correct. We do know that some of them were, that they were pledges, but we haven't spoken with everyone in the vehicle yet.
HEMMER: It's my understanding there were 10 young women inside that jeep. Is that accurate? And if so, of the 10, how many were wearing blindfolds?
RAYMOND: First of all, you are accurate, and we believe it was possible around six of them were.
HEMMER: Do you believe right now swerving was the cause for this crash?
RAYMOND: We've received some reports that erratic operation or swerving could have been involved, and we're certainly looking into that
HEMMER: To the vice president, Richard Hage. Tell us, if this was indeed a hazing incident, how common is that on your campus?
RICHARD HAGE, V.P., STUDENT AFFAIRS, PLYMOUTH STATE UNIV.: Hazing at this level is not common at all. Hazing is something that the university is very interested in finding out from Chief Raymond's investigation, and we'll follow up with the judicial process as soon as we have the facts of this case.
HEMMER: There's a funeral today. How are the other women doing?
HAGE: It's a very sad day. They're not doing well. People are in shock over the loss of Kelly, and our hearts go to the whole family. And we're focusing first on the memorial that we'll have here at the university as well, and then we're going to turn to the investigation.
HEMMER: As a representative for the university, what can the school do in cases like this?
HAGE: If the rumors that we're hearing, and as you've heard from Chief Raymond, if these turn out to be facts, then the outcome is likely to be suspension or expulsion from the university.
HEMMER: Back to the chief, if I could, for a moment here. Was weather a factor in this?
RAYMOND: I'm sorry?
HEMMER: Was weather a factor in this crash?
RAYMOND: There was some rain at the time. And we're having what we refer to as a vehicle autopsy, which will be done on Monday, and we're going to look at that vehicle to see if it was mechanically sound and if the weather conditions had or played a part in any -- at any level. But so far we don't know.
HEMMER: Chief, were the roads wet that day?
RAYMOND: They were, but not in any excessive way.
HEMMER: Will charges be brought at this point?
RAYMOND: It's too early to say, but we're going to be thorough. We're going to complete the interview process. We're going to speak with our county attorney, and we're going to be responsible about presenting all the facts and holding people accountable.
HEMMER: Mr. Hage, tell us about Kelly. What kind of a student, what kind of a woman was she?
HAGE: Kelly was a very bright and shining star on this campus, and it's a deep loss, especially to the family.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: There were no eyewitnesses to that crash on Monday evening about 9:30 Eastern Time. And, again the interviews will continue on Monday in New Hampshire.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
