Bucks Co. Man Charged In College Student's Hazing Death

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — A Bucks County man is facing reckless homicide charges in connection with the 2018 death of a Ohio University student, who died after collapsing at a fraternity party.

Corbin M. Gustafson, 22, of Furlong is one of nine people charged in connection with the death of Collin Wiant in November 2018. The 18-year old collapsed and died during an off-campus party for the Sigma Pi fraternity.

A grand jury this week indicted nine people, including seven fraternity brothers, in connection with his death. The charges were announced Tuesday by prosecutors in Athens County, Ohio.

Wiant's death was determined to be asphyxiation due to nitrous oxide ingestion. The Columbus Dispatch reported Wiant inhaled a canister of the gas, also known as a “whippit,” in the moments leading up to his death.

Gustafson was present while Wiant ingested the nitrous oxide, The New York Times reported.

Wiant's family has filed a lawsuit against the fraternity, saying his death was caused by “extensive hazing” by fraternity members. The lawsuit claims the brothers "provided and forced" drugs on him, beat him, punched him, and forced him to drink excessive amounts of alcohol, NBC News reported.

Ohio University expelled the Sigmi Pi fraternity in April.

In 2017, Penn State student Timothy Piazza died at a fraternity party after consuming alcohol and taking a fatal fall. Several students were charged in connection with his hazing death, which also prompted a grand jury investigation.