Michael Campbell charged in crash that killed Ria Patel

A memorial for Ria Patel lies on the intersection of Stinson Boulevard and Ridgeway Parkway in northeast Minneapolis. Patel died in a hit-and-run car crash there Sunday morning. (Mary Brickner/TommieMedia)

Michael Laurence Campbell admitted to authorities that he drank alcohol before driving and crashing his car, resulting in the death of St. Thomas junior Ria Patel, according to a criminal complaint filed Wednesday.

The Hennepin County Attorney charged Campbell, 21, with two counts of criminal vehicular homicide in connection with the car crash Sunday morning.

Campbell, who crashed the car into a traffic light in northeast Minneapolis, is expected to appear in court Thursday, according to the county attorney.

The criminal complaint said Campbell hit a traffic light around 3:40 a.m. Sunday at the intersection of Stinson Boulevard Northeast and Ridgeway Parkway. No skid marks were found at the scene, and both front airbags were deployed.

“The car was surrounded by a large field of debris including damaged car parts and large pieces of the overhead traffic light that had broken off upon impact from the crash,” the criminal complaint read. “The entire passenger side of the car was crushed.”

Several people witnessed the crash, according to the complaint. One woman told police that she saw a white male exit the car after the crash and run west toward a McDonald’s restaurant. After the witness called 911, she saw the same man return to the car and begin digging for something. The witness said the man told her to call 911, and she replied police were already on the way. He then ran east from the scene, according to the complaint.

Campbell later admitted to authorities that he fled the scene because he was traumatized by seeing the state of Patel after the crash, according to the complaint.

Police arrived at the crash scene and found Patel in the car with life-threatening injuries. Paramedics attempted life-saving measures, but Patel was pronounced dead at the scene.

K-9 units searched the area for Campbell but could not find him. Police found Campbell’s driver’s license at the scene and responded to his listed address. Numerous people were present in the home and confirmed that Campbell lived there but were unaware that he and Patel had left the house. One person stated Campbell had been “super drunk,” according to the criminal complaint.

Campbell has multiple prior driving convictions for serious speed, failure to stop at a stop sign, careless driving, possession of marijuana in a motor vehicle and a January 2017 hit-and-run, for which he is serving probation.

Campbell remained in custody at Hennepin County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail.