A 19-year-old University of the South (Sewanee) student was crushed to death when he fell into a trash compactor Wednesday night.

Officials said Wesley Mitchell, who was from Vermont, had gone with other students to the Templeton Library near the Sewanee campus.

The library was closed, but several students apparently made their way inside.

Mitchell apparently went into a chute that he thought was a laundry chute. But it led down into a trash compactor.

When he fell into the compactor, the machinery came on and crushed him to death.

A memorial service was being held for him at the Sewanee campus Thursday night.