A UCLA student died on July 30 after falling from an open window in a building adjacent to the Burke-Gilman trail in Seattle. The King County Medical Examiner's Office determined that Dayanara Nicole Urbina Ruiz, 21, succumbed to multiple blunt force injuries and ruled her death accidental.
Ruiz, a communications major, was employed as a summer marketing intern at Amazon Web Services in Seattle. Amazon confirmed her passing and expressed condolences, stating the company was focused on providing support to her family and colleagues. She was also an active member of UCLA's Phi Lambda Rho sorority and served as co-president of Fashion and Student Trends (FAST), a student-run fashion club.
The sorority memorialized Ruiz on Instagram, describing her as a "bright light, a gentle soul, and someone whose kindness touched everyone around her." FAST also shared a tribute, calling her an "infectious light" who contributed significantly to the organization. Ruiz had previously held the position of Finance Co-Director for FAST, overseeing financial matters for club events.
The Urbina Ruiz family has established a GoFundMe to assist with funeral and memorial expenses, which had raised over $21,000 as of August 4. The Burke-Gilman trail is a nearly 20-mile multi-use path that traverses Seattle.
