MINNEAPOLIS - A 21-year-old man from St. Michael will spend years in prison after a Hennepin County jury found him guilty in a crash that left his girlfriend dead.
Michael Campbell was charged with two counts of criminal vehicular homicide and one count of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death in the crash, which took place in mid-September of 2017. Investigators say Campbell was behind the wheel of a car that crashed nearly head-on into a stoplight pole at the intersection of Stinson Boulevard Northeast and Ridgeway Parkway shortly before 4 a.m. September 17. First responders found 21-year-old Ria Patel unresponsive inside the crumpled vehicle. Despite lifesaving attempts Patel was declared dead at the scene.
Ria Patel's uncle, Hitesh Patel, said the family is "relieved" to close this chapter.
"The last six months have been extremely hard for all of us as we adjust to a new normal," he said. "A new normal that we don’t want to wish upon anyone. A new normal where we are suffering a life sentence."
Patel said they are glad that Campbell has been found guilty, and hope he gets the maximum sentence. He said that Campbell has not apologized to the family.
"He blamed Ria for the accident," he said.
Sentencing is set for April 5. Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman says his office will argue for a sentence of 57 months, the maximum allowed by state guidelines.
At today's reading of the verdict the judge declined a defense request to let Campbell out of jail until sentencing.
The criminal complaint details how a witness described how Campbell fled to a nearby McDonald's following the crash, briefly returned to the car to grab something, then told the witness to call 911 and ran off, leaving Patel behind without trying to help her.
Campbell did leave his wallet at the scene. Police went to his house but were unable to find him there. Friends said they didn't know he'd left the house but one described him as "super drunk" earlier in the morning.
Campbell was located and taken into custody two days later at his parent's home in St. Michael. During an interview with police he admitted to drinking before the fatal crash. He claimed he was so traumatized after seeing what happened to Patel that he fled without thinking.
The crash that killed Ria Patel was not Campbell's first brush with the law. He has an extensive history of driving violations including running stop signs and lights, speeding, careless driving, and hit-and-run. He also has convictions for drug possession and alcohol consumption by a minor.
Patel was a beloved student at the University of St. Thomas.
