Home / Disasters and Accidents / Fraternity Hazing Horror: One Dead, Two Scarred in Desert Ordeal
Fraternity Hazing Horror: One Dead, Two Scarred in Desert Ordeal
16 Apr
Summary
- Pledges endured extreme hazing, sleep deprivation, and coerced travel.
- A deadly crash occurred due to exhaustion, leaving one dead.
- Survivors suffer PTSD and seek accountability for fraternity actions.
A harrowing fraternity pledge retreat for CSU Long Beach's Pi Kappa Alpha chapter resulted in a fatal crash and severe trauma for survivors. Pledges endured nearly 48 hours of intense hazing, including forced alcohol consumption, sleep deprivation, and physically demanding tasks in the Southern California desert.
Camilo Losada, a survivor, detailed the "torture" of the weekend, which culminated in a deadly car crash on the drive back to campus. His friends Preston Obeidin and Diego Collins, both 19 at the time, were with him. Obeidin died in the crash, while Losada and Collins suffered significant injuries.
Investigators believe the crash, which occurred on southbound SR-79 near Anza Road, was caused by Obeidin falling asleep due to extreme sleep deprivation. Drug and alcohol screenings were negative. Losada has filed a lawsuit against the university and fraternity, alleging negligent supervision led to the incident.
In response, Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity suspended the CSU Long Beach chapter and revoked its charter in April 2025, expelling all undergraduate members. The university expressed condolences but stated it was not a proper party to the lawsuit.
