VCU student killed in DUI crash | News

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) - A man is behind bars for a drunk driving accident that killed a VCU student overnight.

23-year-old Varinder Chahal of Springfield ran a red light while traveling westbound on Canal Street and t-boned a car on 2nd Street carrying 19-year-old Carolina Perez of Virginia Beach, according to the Department's Crash Team investigation.

Perez, a VCU biology major, was taken to VCU Medical Center with life-threatening injuries and died a few hours later. Two others in the same car as Perez were also admitted to VCU Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

Chahal has been charged with driving under the influence, refusal to submit to a blood or breath test and felony manslaughter in the deadly crash. Four other passengers in his vehicle were not injured.

"I express tremendous sadness at the tragic loss of one of our students early today in a car crash in Richmond," said VCU President Michael Rao. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Carolina Perez, a 19-year-old biology major from Virginia Beach, who lost her life in the crash. Two other passengers in the car, also VCU students, are at VCU Medical Center being treated for injuries. We wish them a speedy and full recovery."

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