Yvette Digan, a Boston University exchange student, is embroiled in legal action against Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Zeta Psi Fraternity after suffering severe burns at a frat house event. During a get-together this spring, Digan claims she was severely burned when a fraternity member carelessly poured what’s believed to be denatured alcohol onto an open fire, resulting in her receiving second and third-degree burns on a third of her body, as reported by the Boston Globe.
Digan described the pain as "like needles stabbing you." The student from Hong Kong has since endured multiple skin graft surgeries and grapples with the aftermath of her injuries, which include damage to her hair follicles, sweat glands, and nerve endings. Despite the active litigation, Worcester Polytechnic Institute has refrained from providing comments. In addition to the school and fraternity, Digan’s legal team is also taking action against Luxco—the manufacturer of the Everclear alcohol allegedly involved in the incident. According to the Boston Globe, the lawyer representing Zeta Psi did not immediately respond to a comment request.
Boston 25 News reports that the Everclear grain vodka, which is said to have been used at the party, may have been missing necessary warnings on its bottle. Digan, who went to Zeta Psi "to socialize and meet people because I was new in the area," according to documents obtained by Boston 25 News, has alleged that the 190-proof spirit’s explosive nature due to its 95 percent ethanol content led to what her attorneys call "catastrophic" injuries from the resulting explosion.
Surveillance video from the scene shows patrons sitting around the fire just before the explosive incident occurred, highlighting the perilous circumstances that led up to Digan’s injuries. Recounting the traumatic event, Digan stated, "Out of nowhere, I was set on fire and screaming. Multiple boys tackled me to take the fire out, and then they called the ambulance," as reported by Boston 25 News. The lawsuit argues that these high-proof alcohol products pose significant risks and that adequate warning labels are crucial for preventing similar incidents.
