Student who died in Catawba dorm fire had alcohol in his system

Autopsy reports show that Stephen Andrew Grooms did have alcohol in his system the night he died in a fire at his Catawba College dorm.

However, his blood-alcohol level was well below the legal limit for drivers.

Tests show Grooms’ blood-alcohol level was .03. The law considers a driver impaired with a blood alcohol level of .08.

Medical Examiner Mary Ann Gafney Kraft said Grooms’ blood-alcohol level “didn’t have too much to do with his death.” She said studies show that decreased reaction time begins when the person reaches .05.

Grooms had just turned 20 when he died Oct. 28 after a fire at the Foil House Dorm, a substance-free dorm on the campus of Catawba College.

Catawba spokeswoman Tonia Black-Gold said the college would have no comment.

Grooms’ father, Andy Grooms, said he and his wife taught their son to drink responsibly. “It is unrealistic to think kids will go away to college and not have a beer now and then,” Andy Grooms said. “We attempted to teach him responsible consumption of alcohol, and I think he did that.”

Investigators say it was the third blaze at the dorm that night, but college officials did not call the Fire Department about the first two. Students had unplugged several smoke detectors in the Foil House after a second fire broke out in the laundry room, fire officials said at a press conference in October.

The autopsy shows that Grooms did not die of smoke inhalation but rather due to sever burns to 100 percent of his body.

Kraft explained that Grooms inhaled hot air, damaging his lungs. He passed out and then sustained the burns. Grooms died as a complication of these burns, which were flame burns not chemical burns, according to Kraft.

Investigators continue their work on the case. No arrests have been made in connection with the fire or Grooms’ death and officials have yet to say whether they believe the fire was set intentionally.

Contact Jillian McCartney at 704-797-4253 or jmccartney@salisburypost.com .