Young athlete from NJ dies in fall at Penn State fraternity house

STATE COLLEGE, Penn — A Penn State student from Hunterdon County died in a fall at a fraternity house on Friday.

Timothy Piazza of Lebanon died in a fall in the Beta Theta Pi house in State College on Friday,  according to a statement on the fraternity's website. The statement did not describe the fall further — it wasn't clear from what Piazza fell.

"It is believed that Tim’s death stemmed from an accidental injury sustained from a fall in the chapter house. We are working closely with our general draternity to determine how this happened, and are fully cooperating with police and Penn State administrators in their own investigations," reads the statement.

It also said Piazza recently accepted an invitation to join the fraternity.

Beta Theta Pi is located on the Penn State campus and does not allow alcohol.

State College, Pennsylvania Police have not yet returned a message regarding the incident.

"Our deepest sympathy goes out to Tim's family and friends during this mournful time. Our Student Affairs staff through Penn State's Counseling and Psychological Services is reaching out to students who desire counseling," spokeswoman Lisa Caps wrote in a statement.

Piazza was a 2015 graduate of Hunterdon Central Regional High School, according to district spokeswoman Nancy Tucker. "The administration and staff of Hunterdon Central offer our deepest sympathy to the Piazza family and friends during this difficult time," Tucker said.

According to his Penn State profile page, He played football for four years and also was on the track team as a shot putter. He also threw the javelin and discus. He was a five-year  engineering student at Penn State.

Sean Guthrie, a 20-year-old junior engineering major at the University of West Virginia from Toms River, died in October following a fall from the roof of the Kappa Alpha Order fraternity.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com.

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