Megabus crash victim was 4.0 graduate student at University of Missouri

COLUMBIA, Mo. -  The University of Missouri student killed Thursday when a double-decker bus crashed northeast of St. Louis was a 4.0 student in the health administration graduate program, the school says.

“Members of the MU community are saddened today to learn of the death of one of our students, Ms. Aditi Avhad,” University of Missouri Chancellor Brady Deaton said in a statement Friday. “She was a stellar student who made great contributions to the knowledge-building mission of the university. All of our hearts are a little heavier today as we grieve this loss.”

Avhad, from Mumbai, India, was one of 81 people aboard the Megabus.com bus traveling from Chicago to Kansas City when it crashed about 55 miles away from its scheduled stop in St. Louis. Thirty-eight other people were transported to area hospitals.

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Avhad was admitted to the health administration program in fall of 2011 and was set to return to classes in the fall. She was awarded a scholarship through the School of Medicine, maintained a 4.0 grade point average and was set to complete her master’s degree in 2013, the university said in the statement.

“We have lost a wonderful, dear friend,” said Nikhil Tindal, president of the Cultural Association of India, in which Avhad was a member. “Aditi was a girl who was always smiling and brought so much joy to us all.”

Tindal and other members of the Association are planning a memorial service for Avhad at 7 p.m. Friday at Memorial Union on the school’s Columbia campus.

Eduardo Simoes, Chair and Health Management and Informatics Alumni Distinguished Professor, called Avhad a bright, energetic and beloved student. “We are deeply saddened by this tragic event,” he said, “and send our sincerest condolences to her family.”

Douglas S. Wakefield director of the Center for Health Care Quality, where Avhad trained over the summer, said the combination of her ethic, professionalism, intellect and people skills made her a tremendous contributor to the center.

“The joy her sense of humor and smile brought to our team will be greatly missed,” Wakefield said.