URBANA, Ill. (WAND) - A University of Illinois student will not face criminal charges in an accident at a fraternity house involving flaming alcohol that left a friend with injuries.Â
The News Gazette reports that in order to get insurance to pay for injuries, the state will not file criminal charges against the student.
21-year-old Erik Beitel was issued a notice to appear in court Thursday by the University of Illinois police for possible criminal charges.
That, as a result of a Sept. 27 drinking-related accident at his fraternity.
The State's Attorney decided not to file reckless-conduct charges against him, because the university's disciplinary system is handling the situation.Â
His parents' homeowner's insurance policy will not cover the victim's injuries if Beitel is criminally charged.
The victim's family said they would prefer criminal charges not be filed so the insurance can help cover the medical expenses.Â
The victim is a 19-year-old freshman.
On Sept. 27, firefighters and police were called to the Kappa Delta Rho fraternity in the 1100 block of S. Second St. for a report of two young men who had been burned.
Fire investigators said a group of people were in a second-floor room with Beitel, getting ready to drink flaming shots of Everclear and Jagermeister.
Beitel poured Jagermeister into a shot glass and poured Everclear on top.
As he tried to light the Everclear, the flame flashed back into the bottle, and he threw it.
The flaming bottle landed near his friend, splashed on the couch he was sitting on, and caught his pants and shirt on fire.Â
He rolled trying to put the fire out while someone doused him with a fire extinguisher.
Beitel burned his hands and arms trying to get the burning clothes off of his friend.
Fire officials determined the cause to be accidental.
Beitel's burns were not serious.
The victim's burns were serious, and he was treated at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield and then released.
