Alcohol played role in death of student

Recent autopsy reports indicate alcohol contributed to the death of freshman Berkley Branson Saturday. Branson was fatally injured after reportedly exiting a moving vehicle driven by Matthew Willett of Evansville.\nVanderburgh County Coroner Donald Erk said alcohol was involved in the accident, which occurred on a rural Evansville road early Saturday morning. \nHe attributed Branson's death to lacerations of the liver caused by blunt force trauma suffered when Willett's truck ran over her midsection. \nAccording to a statement by the sheriff's department to the Evansville Courier, Branson's blood-alcohol content was .26, almost three times the legal limit.\n While Erk could not disclose Branson's blood-alcohol content, he said he could not dispute the Courier's statement.\n "It's just one of those situations (in which) alcohol obviously played a part," Erk said. "The bottom line is if she hadn't been drinking, she may not have jumped out of the vehicle."\nWillett's blood-alcohol level was .08, under the legal driving limit of .10 mandated by Indiana state law. No charges have been filed against him. \n Lieutenant Stephen Bequette of the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Department confirmed Branson had been drinking, but would not comment further. \n Bequette said the case will be turned over to the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor's Office for review early next week. \n Erk said he believes some sort of charge will be filed against Willett, although the decision to do so rests upon the county prosecutor.\nVanderburgh County Prosecuting Attorney Stanley Levco could not be reached for comment.