More than 100 people gathered at McKeldin Mall on Tuesday night in memory of Christina Koutsoukos, 18, who died Sunday in a one-car accident.
Koutsoukos was a freshman at this university.
Students gathered in front of McKeldin Library for a vigil ceremony to light candles and release balloons in her honor.
Koutsoukos was sitting in the front seat of a Dodge Viper when the vehicle went off the roadway and struck a concrete wall, according to an NBC4 report. The driver, Brandon Bussard, 21, climbed out the window and was taken to the hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries, according to the report.
Friends and family remembered Koutsoukos for her ability to “brighten up a room,” said Bella Cordaro, a cousin of Koutsoukos.
“She was very caring,” said Cordaro, 16. “She would make everyone laugh and smile. I will always remember her because she called me her ‘mini me.'”
Another friend, Angelo Ruiz, 16, said Koutsoukos “always had a smile on her face,” and “there was never a dull time with her.”
Koutsoukos’ uncle, Mario Marinucci, also remembered his niece for her loving personality.
“Whenever Christina visited our house or called on the telephone, it ended with three words,” he said. “And those three words were ‘I love you.’ That’s why my pain isn’t as deep as it should be, because we expressed our love for each other for 18 years in that manner.”
CORRECTION: Due to a reporting error, a previous version of this story stated Brandon Bussard’s age as 22, as stated in the NBC4 report. He was 21, according to the police report.
