HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) – The families of three college students killed in a crash in 2023 have filed lawsuits against the James Madison University chapter of Pi Beta Chi fraternity and its president, John Marshall, for the wrongful deaths of their loved ones.

On February 2nd, 2023, Joshua Mardis, John “Luke” Fergusson and Nicholas Troutman died when their vehicle ran off Route 259 and hit a tree near the West Virginia state line.

According to online records, the car’s driver, Campbell Ryan Fortune, is facing three counts of negligent homicide and reckless driving, among other charges.

JMU’s website says Pi Beta Chi lost recognition in 2013 due to hazing involving “forced calisthenics and underage drinking.”