UNM senior Erron Todd, 21, died Saturday, Sept. 28, 2002 from injuries she sustained when the vehicle she was riding in was hit by a N.M. State Police car in Socorro.
Also killed in the crash was Jeremiah Wright, 22, a New Mexico Tech senior.
The driver of the car, Christopher Michel, 22, also a student at Tech, survived the accident and was released from UNM Hospital Sept. 31.
The state police officer, Robert Carrejo, was taken to Socorro General Hospital where he was treated and released the evening of the accident.
According to state police reports, the vehicle driven by Michel pulled into an intersection and directly into the path of the oncoming police car.
Preliminary reports state that both cars were traveling through a green light at the intersection, but that Carrejo had the right of way.
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Socorro Police Chief Joel Hale said Michel's vehicle was northbound when he turned left into the path of officer Carrejo's car, causing a "T-bone" collision.
Todd was majoring in special education and was student teaching at Montezuma Elementary School in Albuquerque at the time of the accident.
"The entire school was devastated at the loss of such a wonderful person," said Judy Ingersoll, Montezuma Elementary School's administrative assistant. "She had such an impact on her class and on the staff here, it is impossible to replace someone like that."
The school provided grief counseling to students and faculty immediately after the accident.
Wright and Michel lived together and Todd and Michel were preparing to be engaged at the time of the accident, according to an Oct. 2 article printed in the Socorro El Defensor Chieftain.
Todd was also an honor student, who had received a scholarship for her scholastic efforts prior to her death.
"She was a model student, we consider this to be a great loss," said Viola Florez, dean of the College of Education. "We want her family to know that she will be missed."
Todd was also an employee at the Farmers Market and many of her fellow students said they remember her for her charismatic personality.
"She was just a warm and friendly kind of person," said Keri John, Todd's classmate. "She was always willing to go the extra mile for anyone that needed her help."
Wright was an engineering major at Tech and also the captain of its Rugby team.
Many said they remember him as a courageous and spirited man.
"People like that don't come along every day," said Craig Pacheco, a UNM student who graduated with Wright. "He led by example, he was a true friend and the world is a lesser place without him."
Services for Erron Todd took place Oct. 2, at Albuquerque's St. Mark's On The Mesas Episcopal Church. Services for Wright took place Oct. 3 in Raton, N.M.
