STREAM EXCLUSIVE ORIGINALS

Drunk 21-Year-Old Left Girlfriend To Die Alone After Slamming Car Into Pole In Horrific Accident

Michael Laurence Campbell faces two counts of criminal vehicular homicide.

A 21-year-old Minneapolis man has been charged with homicide after getting into a fatal car accident and leaving behind his girlfriend, who died on scene. 

Early Sunday morning, Michael Laurence Campbell crashed his car into a traffic light near a highway exit ramp, reported the Star Tribune. After the accident, Campbell, who was intoxicated, took off running and left his girlfriend, 20-year-old Ria Patel, at the site of the crash, according to Hennepin County prosecutors.

Two days later, investigators tracked down Campbell to a residence where he was picked up by police. The 21-year-old was charged Wednesday with two counts of criminal vehicular homicide, each carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Campbell, who was on probation for a separate hit-and-run from January, has a rap sheet that includes speeding citations, possession of marijuana in a vehicle, failure to stop at a stop sign and careless driving, reported the Star Tribune

Campbell admitted he was drinking before leaving his house with Patel and friends told police the 21-year-old was “superdrunk.” The crash occurred around 3:50 a.m., when Campbell drove his red Ford into a traffic light, which fell down, causing the passenger side roof to cave, crushing Patel.

Campbell told investigators he ran because he was “traumatized by seeing the state” of Patel after the wreck, so he took off and left his wallet. A witness saw Campbell at the scene and he told her to call the cops before he took off.

He remains in the Hennepin County jail in lieu of $250,000 bail.

Latest News

Subscribe for BET Updates

Provide your email address to receive our newsletter.


By clicking Subscribe, you confirm that you have read and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers) and other information from BET and the Paramount family of companies. You understand that you can unsubscribe at any time.