AP: Campbell sentenced to 4 years in prison

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minneapolis man who fled after crashing his car and killing his 20-year-old girlfriend will serve four years in prison.

Twenty-one-year-old Michael Campbell was sentenced Thursday after a jury convicted last month of criminal vehicular homicide.

Campbell claimed at his trial that his girlfriend, University of St. Thomas student Ria Patel, had distracted him with a “passionate kiss” before he slammed his car into a stoplight in northeast Minneapolis, killing her last September.

WCCO reports he also told investigators he ran from the scene after being “traumatized” by the sight of Patel’s injuries. Campbell was arrested two days later in Wright County.

Campbell left his wallet behind and police went to his house. One roommate described Campbell as “super drunk.”