VB student killed in Richmond crash

RICHMOND, Va. (WAVY) - Police have arrested a man accused of driving drunk and causing a deadly crash in downtown Richmond.

Investigators say Varinder Chahal, 23, was driving on East Canal Street at around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, when he ran a red light and slammed into a Toyota, sending the vehicle into a building.

19-year-old Carolina Perez from Virginia Beach was killed. She was in the backseat of the Toyota. Perez was a freshman at Virginia Commonwealth University majoring in Biology.

Two other VCU students in the Toyota were admitted to VCU Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

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

A Funeral Mass for Perez will be held on Saturday, Feb. 25 at St. Luke's Catholic Church in Virginia Beach at noon. The church is located at 2304 Salem Road.