NCAA sued by parents of college student killed by hammer

CHICAGO (AP) - The NCAA is being sued by the parents of a suburban Chicago Christian college freshman who was struck and killed in 2017 by an errant hammer throw at a track and field meet.

The wrongful death lawsuit filed by the parents of Wheaton College student Ethan Roser in U.S. District Court in Chicago alleges the NCAA was negligent by failing to enact minimum size requirements for safety cages and failing to require trained officials at track and field events.

The 19-year-old Roser of Cincinnati was volunteering at the track and field competition when he was accidentally struck by a 16-pound hammer. Attorney Jeffrey Martin says Roser was standing in a designated safety zone at the time.

An investigation by Wheaton police determined Roser was watching the actions of two other volunteers rather than focusing on the hammer throw as he had been instructed.

NCAA officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.