The parents of a Georgia Southern University student who suffered major injuries after falling out of a second story window at the Sigma Chi house on Greek Row on Aug. 31 said she may never walk again.

The Statesboro Police Department responded to a call of an injured female on Olympic Boulevard around 12:30 a.m., Madison Warren, SPD community information specialist said.

The student was later identified as sophomore Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority member Danielle “Elle” Kolb.

Roberta and Richard Kolb, parents of Danielle, said via email that just after midnight Kolb was invited to visit Sigma Chi by member Gard Zeringue, a GS junior.

“Due to causes yet to be determined, Elle fell from a second-story window at the Sigma Chi fraternity house, suffering an L-2 burst fracture of her spine, rendering her unable to walk,”  Kolb’s parents said via email. 

Kolb was life flighted to Memorial Hospital in Savannah where she underwent a nine-hour surgery to stabilize her spine and has been hospitalized since the incident, Kolb’s parents said via email.

“She is facing a two-year rehabilitation program to sustain maximum recovery, but it is unclear if she will ever walk again,” Kolb’s parents said via email. 

Based off her injuries, it appears that Kolb fell out of the second story window of Sigma Chi’s house and landed feet first, Warren said.

SPD has closed the case and the incident is not being investigated as a criminal matter, Warren said.

Kolb’s parents said via email that Danielle has retained Bob Cheeley of Cheeley Law Group to investigate how this incident happened and to consider possible legal action. 

Cheeley represented several GS nursing students and their families in the April 22, 2015 tractor trailer crash on I-16 and achieved settlements for three wrongful death cases totaling $45 million and one verdict of $15 million on behalf of Megan Richards, who was injured in that crash, Kolb’s parents said via email.

“The Kolb family has yet to hear from anyone from Sigma Chi at Georgia Southern or its national headquarters,” Kolb’s parents said via email. 

The George-Anne reached out to both Kappa Kappa Gamma and Sigma Chi, but have not received a response.

There is currently a GoFundMe page to help cover the cost of Kolb’s surgeries, with a goal of $50,000.

Article updated Sept. 6, 5:03 p.m.

Matthew Enfinger, The George-Anne Editor-in-Chief, gaeditor@georgiasouthern.edu. 

Brendan Ward, The George-Anne Coverage Managing Editor, gamed@georgiasouthern.edu.

Coy Kirkland contributed to this article.