A recent student at the University of Iowa has been identified as the victim of a fatal fire at the U-I’s Hawkeye Drive Apartments.
Anne Bassett, a spokesperson for the U-of-I, says 22-year-old Jiaxin Duan was a fourth-year art major. Duan was most recently enrolled at the U-I in the fall of 2015. The cause of the fire, which broke out late last Friday afternoon, remains unknown.
“The State Fire Marshal’s office is still looking into that,” Bassett said. Neighbors reported hearing an explosion. The fire was contained to one apartment and no one else was injured. Bassett says Duan’s mother lived with him in the apartment.
The Hawkeye Drive Apartments in Iowa City are owned by the University of Iowa and are located about three miles west of central campus. The eight-building complex has a total of 166 apartments.