Coach: Michigan State student killed in campus crash 'had a beautiful life ahead of her'

EAST LANSING - Tiana Seville was a determined and talented athlete who led by example.

But those who knew her are more likely to remember her radiant smile and positive outlook, even during times of adversity, friends said.

"There are countless photos of her with her mom and siblings around town and on vacations together, and they were always smiling," said Vania Hall, who came to know Seville through the Grand Ledge gymnastics program. "I hope that those memories of laughter and smiles will ease their pain of Tiana's loss in the coming days, weeks. and months."

Seville, a 21-year-old junior at Michigan State University, was killed in a crash Tuesday morning on campus. Police said a person riding on a moped collided with a salt truck at the intersection of Shaw Lane and Chestnut Road but haven't released the name of the person who died or provided any other details.

A 2016 graduate of Grand Ledge High School, Seville attended Grand Valley State University for a year before transferring to MSU. She was studying kinesiology at MSU, according to the university's website.

Seville was on the gymnastics team at Grand Ledge for three years and was a cheerleader at GVSU, said Duane Haring, head gymnastics coach at Grand Ledge.

"Tiana was a very, very good athlete," Haring said. "There wasn't anything she couldn't do because she tried so hard. She had an unbelievable work ethic. She wanted to do well for herself and her school and her community."

Seville will be remembered best for "her big heart," Haring said.

"She had the biggest, softest heart of any person I've ever met," he said. "She was just the nicest young lady, an amazing person. I don't know how something like this could have happened to someone so amazing. She had a beautiful life ahead of her."

Seville enjoyed being around people and "always had a smile on her face, even in bad times," he said.

Hall said her daughter joined the gymnastics team at Grand Ledge at the same time as Seville, and Seville became like a big sister to her daughter.

Seville was hampered by injuries her junior and senior years but made adjustments and became a motivator for the team, Hall said. Seville also sang with the Madrigal choir and participated in a mentorship program, she said. 

"In addition to her determination, she always led by example with her positivity and sportsmanship," she said. "She was also a wonderful role model for younger athletes. Her sister and many others looked up to her, and she was always willing to help them."

Hall said Seville transferred to MSU after a year at GVSU because she missed her family and wanted to be closer to home.

"While we are devastated by her loss, we will do our best to move forward in ways that would have made Tiana proud," she said. 

Haring said Seville's death "one of the hardest things I've had to deal with. The world lost somebody very special, in my opinion."

In a Facebook posting, GVSU Cheerleading said it was "heartbroken" by Seville's death.

"Her vibrant and bright spirit was contagious, and her smile could light up any room," it said. "We were blessed to know her, and she will be so missed."

A crowdfunding campaign to help the family cover funeral expenses had raised more than $10,000 as of Friday. 

A funeral service will be 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Michael Catholic Church in Grand Ledge. Visitation will be 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Peters & Murray Funeral Home in Grand Ledge. 

MSU student on moped killed in crash with salt truck

Contact Ken Palmer at (517) 377-1032 or kpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBPalm_lsj.