Miami Student

Issue date: 10/23/07 Section: Front Page

Eger

The Miami University community is grappling with the sudden death of 20-year-old junior Joey Eger, who was killed by a CSX Corporation train early Friday morning.

"He was just everywhere," said a Miami senior and friend of the junior. "Everybody knew Joey … He was creative, never shy, he didn't know a stranger. He never forgot a face."

According to the Butler County Coroner, Eger was hit by a train passing through Oxford at approximately 7:45 a.m. Friday. His body was found southeast of the College Avenue track crossing by a CSX railroad worker around 11 a.m., and was officially pronounced dead at 11:55 a.m., which was when the Butler County Coroner investigator arrived at the scene.

Eger, of Sharonville, Ohio, tested negative for alcohol, but positive for marijuana, according to Justin Weber, who was the on-scene investigator with the Butler County Coroner. In three to four weeks, a full report from the coroner will be available.

"The cause of death is multiple traumas due to being hit by a train," Weber said. "The manner of death is suicide."

Weber explained that text messages that had been sent to friends and family from Eger's phone were used in determining to rule the death as a suicide.

Sgt. Jim Squance of the Oxford Police Department (OPD) explained that at 12:30 a.m. Friday, OPD responded to a noise complaint at Eger's West Chestnut Street residence. When OPD arrived at the scene, a strong odor of marijuana escaped from the home. Eger, his housemate and three other students were taken to the police station and a search warrant was executed. Eger and his housemate were then cited for drug paraphernalia and released around 4 a.m. from the police station.

Squance could not state if Eger appeared under the influence of substances during his time at the station.

Squance said between the time of about 4 a.m. and around 7:30 a.m. the text messages were sent to Eger's friends and family members.

"A tragedy such as this strikes the whole community," Squance said. "The Miami and Oxford community is very tight-knit and when a tragedy like this has occurred … it has touched so many people … It touches almost everybody."

Joey was an interdisciplinary studies major-part of the Western College Program-with a management information systems minor. Students close to Joey emphasized his humor, creativity and extremely friendly nature.

Kioko Ireri, a graduate student from Kenya who was both a friend of Joey's and worked closely with him on class projects, expressed dismay at the loss.

Continued...

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