Man charged in hit-and-run that killed student near U of M had canceled license, charges say
MINNEAPOLIS — A 30-year-old Minneapolis man faces charges after a student was killed in a hit-and-run near the University of Minnesota.
Ali Samator ran a red light, hitting a victim who was crossing the street, then left the scene, police say.
Officers found Samator a short distance away from the area. They noticed an odor of alcohol coming off of him as well as bloodshot eyes. He was taken into custody and consented to a blood draw, charges say.
The victim, who was identified by family members as Rylie Saloum, died in the hospital on Nov. 10, three days after the crash. Hospital staff said she died from injuries sustained from the crash.
Saloum is remembered fondly by her community.
"It's a tragedy," said Barb Whiteis. "To put out the life of such a young person that had so much to offer."
For 12 years, Whiteis taught Rylie Saloum in one of her earliest passions: horseback riding.
"She had these cute dimples the dimples that's what I remember," said Whiteis. "She was very outgoing and she came almost every day."
Saloum's father, Scott Saloum, said he spent Thursday picking up his daugther's belongings from college.
"She's very outgoing, caring, energetic. Always smiling," said Saloum. "She loved acting and aspired to one day be in the movies or TV."
Samator had three prior alcohol-related driving convictions in the last 10 years and had a canceled license stemming from a 2016 incident.
"It's super infuriating that the laws here allow people like this to continue to do things over and over and over until somebody dies," said Saloum.
Samator was charged with two counts of criminal vehicular homicide, one count of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol and one count of driving with a canceled license.
