A young University of Minnesota student was struck by a vehicle earlier this month and succumbed to her injuries several days later.
The alleged driver has been charged with multiple felonies including criminal vehicular homicide.
Minneapolis police were dispatched about 10:25 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 7 on a report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle near Cedar and Riverside avenues, where the victim had suffered “substantial” blood loss, according to police scanner audio.
Police initially aired that the suspect vehicle had been observed leaving the scene of the crash, but aired about 25 minutes later that the suspect vehicle had returned to the area and had driven through the scene of the collision.
Just before 11 p.m., University of Minnesota police found the suspect vehicle, a red Toyota Camry, about a block away from the scene. The driver was then taken into custody. Police also aired that they observed that the vehicle had front end damage and possible evidence including hair and DNA, according to further scanner audio.
The approximately 20-year-old female victim was transported to the hospital by EMS with a head injury and “multiple deformed extremities.” Scanner audio indicated that CPR was being started on the victim during transport.
Minneapolis Cedar-Riverside – Pedestrian struck at 4th and Cedar Ave.
Suspect: Somali driver in a red Camry, RFY679, that just ran through the crime scene again while police are on site.— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) November 8, 2024
Ali Abas Samator, 30, was booked into custody and charged in Hennepin County District Court with two felony counts of criminal vehicular operation (CVO) involving alcohol and leaving the scene of the crash. Samator was also charged with felony DWI and driving with a canceled license inimical to public safety, a gross misdemeanor.
The charging document states that police were able to review video that captured the crash, which showed that the victim was in the crosswalk and had the right-of-way when she was struck by the red Camry that had run a red light. According to the criminal complaint, there were no tire marks indicating that the suspect vehicle had tried to stop before the collision.
When police spoke with Samator in the Camry, they reportedly noticed several indications of suspected impairment. A warrant was obtained for a blood or urine sample, but the charging document says Samator consented to a blood draw. The results of that blood draw are still pending.
According to court records, police discovered that Samator’s license was canceled, and that he had three prior alcohol related driving convictions within the last 10 years.
Samator is also charged in a separate criminal complaint for allegedly fleeing U of M police in his vehicle. Police dispatches indicate that this alleged incident occurred after the student was struck but before Samator was arrested near the collision scene.
The charging document in that case says that Samator was observed driving the wrong way on the night of Nov. 7 and did not stop when police attempted to make a stop. Police eventually stopped pursuit “given the dangerous driving conduct.”
Police learned that the victim, who has since been identified by family friends to Alpha News as Rylie Saloum, died at the hospital as a result of her injuries on Nov. 10. A GiveSendGo account set up in memory of Rylie said that she was walking back to her dorm when she was struck “in a senseless accident caused by a drunk driver.”
The two felony (CVO) charges against Samator have now been upgraded to two felony charges of criminal vehicular homicide, one involving alcohol and the other involving leaving a crash scene.
Samator was granted a public defender during a hearing last week and remains in custody at Hennepin County Jail on $300,000 bail. He is scheduled to make his next court appearance on Dec. 10.
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Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota.
Crime Watch MN
Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
