MINNEAPOLIS (TIP): A late report from Minneapolis says students, faculty and staff are grieving the death of St. Thomas junior Ria Patel, who died in a car accident early the morning of Sept. 17. She was the daughter of Bharat and Devyani Patel of Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Ria was killed after her drunk boyfriend Michael Laurence Campbell left her to die inside a car that met with a fatal accident.

The crash happened around 3:40 a.m. at the Stinson Boulevard exit ramp off southbound Interstate 35W in Northeast Minneapolis. According to an acquaintance, Campbell was “super-drunk” when he left his home around 2 a.m. Sunday, according to the charges.

 Michael Laurence Campbell was arrested on Sept. 19 and charged with two counts of criminal vehicular homicide — “operating vehicle in a grossly negligent manner” and “driver who causes collision leaves scene,” according to the Hennepin County attorney’s office.

Friends and family are still trying to make sense of the accident that took a young woman who brought light to many. In an interview with KARE 11, her uncle, Hitesh Patel, said she was “probably one of the happiest girls ever.” Cousin and fellow St. Thomas student Raveena Patel said that she and Ria were “inseparable” and that her cousin was capable of making friends with anyone.

The St. Thomas campus community has echoed that sentiment.

“She always knew how to light up the room wherever she would go,” said student Jenny Jirsa. “She brought people together in ways in so many different ways.”

“I know her beautiful smile and personality will live in us and she will continue to look down at us and bless us from above,” Raveena said.

Aarti (prayers) were held Monday, Sept. 18, with prarthana sabha (prayer service) following at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir. A prayer vigil planned by students was held at the Arches on Thursday, Sept. 21, from 8:30-10:00 p.m. funeral service took place Saturday, Sept. 23, from 1:30-4 p.m. in the Anderson Student Center, James B. Woulfe Alumni Hall.