Duke Student Killed in Accident Early Thursday (Updated 5 p.m. Thursday)

A
21-year-old Duke University student was killed in a one-vehicle accident near
campus early Thursday morning.

Matthew
Grape, a senior from Wellesley, Mass., was killed in the accident, which
occurred around 2:40 a.m. near the intersection of Duke University Road and
Academy Road, the Durham Police Department reported. Grape was a passenger in the vehicle, Durham Police said.

The
driver of the vehicle, Lee Royster, was taken to Duke University Hospital with
minor injuries, Durham Police said. Royster, 21, of Hickory, N.C., is a Duke
senior. Durham Police have charged Royster with driving while impaired. No one else was in the vehicle.

Counselors
and other Student Affairs personnel will be available to help Duke students
deal with the tragedy, said Vice President for Student Affairs Larry Moneta.
Students wishing to speak with someone are asked to call (919) 660-1000.

"We
have few details of the accident right now, but, regardless, the loss is
devastating and tragic," Moneta said in an email to students Thursday morning.

More than 100 students attended a private gathering Thursday afternoon to grieve and console one another. University chaplains, counselors and other support groups were on hand to encourage students to engage with whatever help they needed to cope with Grape's death.

"The brothers of Alpha Delta Phi deeply mourn the loss of our close friend and brother Matthew Grape," wrote Grape's fraternity brothers in a statement. "Matt was a bright, compassionate, incredibly loyal man, and will be missed not only by us but by his many friends in the Duke community. His death is a shocking tragedy and we send our prayers and condolences to Matt's family for their loss."

Gerald Wilson, senior associate dean and Grape's advisor, recalled Grape's personable nature and wonderful sense of humor. "I jokingly called Matthew 'Monsieur Grape,' which he took with tremendous good humor,"  Wilson said. "I spoke with him briefly just yesterday. I am truly saddened by his loss because he was such a great guy. He will be missed."

There will be a viewing from 4-8 p.m. Sunday at Doherty & Sons Funeral Home in Wellesley. The funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Wellesley.

Grape is survived by his parents, Peter A. and Linda Grape; his brother Peter (Duke '08) and his sister Katie.

The accident is under investigation by the Durham Police Department.