The family of UCLA student Dayanara Nicole Urbina Ruiz is questioning the circumstances surrounding her death after she fell from an apartment window in Seattle. The King County Medical Examiner ruled Urbina Ruiz's death an accident, citing multiple blunt force injuries from an unintentional fall from an open window. However, her family disputes the description of her state prior to the incident.
According to a 911 call from a friend, Urbina Ruiz, 21, was "extremely intoxicated" and running around outside the Trailside Seattle Apartments in the University District neighborhood shortly before the fall. The friend reported attempting to guide Urbina Ruiz back to her apartment after she was seen trying to enter vehicles and running in the street. Urbina Ruiz was working as a summer marketing intern at Amazon Web Services at the time of her death.
Urbina Ruiz's sister, Catherine, expressed disbelief at the account of her sister's intoxication, stating that Urbina Ruiz was a responsible individual who would not typically become that inebriated. Catherine mentioned that her sister had been drinking since around 4 p.m. and became combative when it was time to leave. The family maintains that Urbina Ruiz was not the type of person to become "sloppy or too drunk."
The apartment building where the incident occurred is located alongside Seattle's Burke-Gilman Trail. The Trailside Seattle Apartments are described as a luxury student housing community near the University of Washington.
Urbina Ruiz was a member of the Phi Lambda Rho Sorority, Inc. at UCLA. The sorority's UCLA chapter shared a tribute on Instagram, remembering her as a "bright light" and "gentle soul" known for her kindness and support. Her family has established a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral expenses, aiming to raise $24,000.
The Burke-Gilman Trail is a nearly 20-mile paved path popular with pedestrians, runners, and cyclists.