An E.J. Ourso College of Business undergraduate adviser died on her way to work Monday morning in a car accident on I-10.
Victoria Archangel was traveling east on I-10 when she rear-ended a pickup truck in front of her, according to Louisiana State Police spokesman Russell Graham.
Graham said Archangel lost control of her SUV and crossed the median. Her vehicle was struck on the driver’s side by a large truck traveling on the opposite side of the interstate.
The wreck caused heavy traffic on the interstate Monday morning.
Timothy Rodrigue, assistant director of alumni and external
relations in the Business College said Archangel was making her daily commute to the University from her home in Lafayette when the accident occurred.
Rodrigue said Archangel was first hired as an adviser in August 2008. He believes her death will deeply affect students and faculty at the University.
“She always had a smile on her face,” Rodrigue said. “It’s always a tremendous loss any time we lose someone but especially someone with her demeanor and personality.”
Eli Jones, dean of the Business College, said Archangel will be missed for her contributions to the school.
“She was a very kind lady,” Jones said. “She’s definitely going to be missed as a colleague.”
Jones said Archangel was the coordinator for the Freshman Year Experience in the college, and the students she worked with will be hit especially hard by the loss.
“We’ll do our best to make sure the students are taken care of,” he said.
Rodrigue said no plans for funeral services have been made as of yet. He said Archangel is survived by her husband and four stepchildren.
“It’s going to take a long time for people to recover,” he said.
 
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Contact Rachel Warren at [email protected]