Report: One person dead after falling from Ohio State football stadium

One person died on Sunday after reportedly falling from the top of Ohio State‘s football stadium, according to The Lantern, OSU’s independent student newspaper.

The incident occurred on the southeast side of the Shoe, per the report, better known as Ohio Stadium where the Buckeyes’ football team plays. The Lantern’s report also noted that two officers were seen running to the scene with a “large, white tarp,” and the scene has since been roped off.

The Lantern also reached out to Ohio State spokesperson Ben Johnson, who provided the following statement. Their initial report did not identify a victim.

“An individual fell from the stands. They are deceased,” he said, via the Lantern. “We have no additional details to share at this time. Police and emergency responders are on the scene. For anyone affected by today’s incident, we will make counseling and other support resources available.”

A report from WOSU Public Media confirmed that the Columbus Division of Fire did identify the person who died as female, but her age was not disclosed.

Additional details were revealed by Peter Gill of the Columbus Dispatch, who reported that one officer sent out a call around 12:30 p.m. local time stating, “I need medics and some officers at Gate 30 … had one fall off the stadium.” Doral Chenoweth, a Columbus Dispatch photographer on the scene, said that the scene was surrounded by yellow tape and “concerned officials.”

One eyewitness that the Dispatch interviewed called the tragedy “unbelievable,” after relaying the story of how a single person fell as the last of Sunday’s graduates were filing off the field and out of the tunnel that the football players use to enter the stadium.

Dispatch reporter Jordan Laird attended the commencement ceremony, where he told Gill that people in the stands and even some students set to graduate were visibly upset after hearing the news that someone died just outside of the stadium.

Ohio State’s graduation ceremony began at Noon local time, roughly half an hour before the incident occurred. Roughly 2,000 students were set to receive their diplomas on Sunday. According to the Dispatch’s report, the incident had not been mentioned by speakers at graduation.

As of this report, no changes have been made to the commencement itinerary.

Sunday’s graduation ceremony was the first time since the Ohio State football program’s spring game on April 13th that fans were able to gather at Ohio Stadium.