University of Washington sophomore, 19, dies after slipping and hitting her head on campus just a day after the grounds had been closed due to snow and ice

  • Student was walking Wednesday morning east of Drumheller Fountain and north of the Electrical Engineering building when she slipped and hit her head
  • Her name has not yet been released 
  • University police say it's unclear whether the 19-year-old slipped on ice 
  • Campus was closed on Monday and Tuesday because of snowy and icy conditions following a recent snowstorm 

A 19-year-old University of Washington student has died after slipping on a sidewalk on campus and hitting her head.

University police Maj. Steve Rittereiser said it was not immediately clear if the woman, a sophomore, slipped on ice or what the cause of the fall was. He said detectives are investigating.

Her name has not yet been released. 

It happened at around 10.30am Wednesday east of Drumheller Fountain and north of the Electrical Engineering building on the university campus. 

The prior two days, on Monday and Tuesday, the campus was closed because of snowy and icy conditions following a recent snowstorm.

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A 19-year-old University of Washington student died Wednesday after slipping and hitting her head on campus 

A 19-year-old University of Washington student died Wednesday after slipping and hitting her head on campus 

The campus was closed on Monday and Tuesday because of snowy and icy conditions following a recent snowstorm

The campus was closed on Monday and Tuesday because of snowy and icy conditions following a recent snowstorm

Police and Seattle Fire Department medics responded, and the woman was rushed to Harborview Medical Center, where she succumbed to her injuries.

Rittereiser said the student’s family was being notified.  

The campus was closed on Monday and Tuesday because of snowy and icy conditions following a recent snowstorm.

The area where the unnamed student suffered the fall had been treated with sand and salt before classes resumed on Wednesday morning, a university representative told The Seattle Times.

A 'sidewalk closed' sign is seen Wednesday afternoon in the area where the student suffered a fatal fall 

A 'sidewalk closed' sign is seen Wednesday afternoon in the area where the student suffered a fatal fall 

University of Washington President Ana Marie Cauce tweeted a statement addressing the student's tragic death

University of Washington President Ana Marie Cauce tweeted a statement addressing the student's tragic death

Signs that read 'sidewalk closed' were spotted Wednesday afternoon by KIRO7 in the area near the walkway where the 19-year-old hit her head.

University of Washington President Ana Marie Cauce tweeted a statement addressing the student's passing. 

'My heart goes out to the family of the student who died as the result of a fall on campus,' the message read. 'All of us at the University of Washington are grieving this terrible tragedy with them. Student safety is our number one priority, and UWPD is investigating the exact cause of the accident.' 

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University of Washington sophomore, 19, dies after slipping on icy sidewalk and hitting her head

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