The Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office reported Thursday.
“The family and friends of Ciaya Whetstone are saddened by the information in the coroner’s report…and distraught that their daughter might have been the victim a spiked substance,” stated a statement from attorneys representing the family of the Bamberg student, South Carolina.
L. Chris Stewart and Michael Adams, attorneys, requested information on an Uber driver who reportedly drove the University of New Orleans student, 21, from Bamberg (South Carolina) to search for her car.
The statement stated that the family wanted to know the details of Uber’s actions when he saw a passenger die and why he didn’t call 911 because he saw a medical emergency. Uber has yet to release any information to the family so we have to file our lawsuit.
Uber stated Thursday that it could not comment on any pending litigation.
According to company emailed information, the company provided requested information about the driver, vehicle, and GPS trip data to police. According to the statement, police will decide whether to release this information to Wheatstone’s relatives or to the general public.
According to the statement, the company prohibits passengers from contacting them after their trip, and the safety team has blocked driver access to the app.
According to the coroner’s office, Whetstone died at 7 a.m. on February 19, in a New Orleans hospital.
This is on the opposite side of the city to suburban Metairie where she was reported to have seen parades before going out with her friends. In February, her roommate, The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate, reported that she returned home via Uber to check on her dog. She then went out again with the same driver to search for her car.
The lawyers stated that “this coroner’s report only confirmed what we already suspected: she succumbed to an overdose and her Uber driver failed in his duty to take appropriate action.”
The statement continued: “We are waiting for Uber and law enforcement to provide additional details that will allow this family the true information they require.”
According to WWLTV, city leaders stated that fentanyl was found in the majority of overdose deaths in 2021.
Dr. Jennifer Avegno, Director at the New Orleans City Health Department said that it takes only a small amount (fentanyl), to make someone incapacitated. “Fentanyl is found in all things. An initial analysis of overdose deaths last years shows that it was in at least 90% of these deaths.
