Crime & Safety
Eden Prairie Grad, 21, Dies On Vacation
The 2014 homecoming queen was passionate about politics and women's rights.

EDEN PRAIRIE, MN — A Twin Cities family is mourning the loss of a woman who died while on vacation this month. Katie Pudas, 21, of Eden Prairie was killed in a vehicle crash Thursday while sightseeing in northern Vietnam near the Chinese border.
She was traveling throughout southeast Asia with a high school friend. The two were motorbiking when Pudas slide into a car on a wet road.
Pudas, described as a social butterfly, was crowned Eden Prairie High School homecoming queen in 2014, Eden Prairie News reported. She was passionate about politics and women’s rights.
Find out what's happening in Eden Prairiefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
EPHS Homecoming royalty- King Jack Koehler & Queen Katie Pudas. Congrats to everyone and happy homecoming week! pic.twitter.com/2CeSLQA1xm
— Eden Prairie Schools (@EPS272) September 11, 2014
Pudas graduated high school in 2015. She graduated from the University of Kansas in May with a degree in journalism and political science.
I’m still in disbelief that Katie is gone. She was an absolute gem of a person. All the love to the Pudas family. pic.twitter.com/TH0X67oFG2
— Craig Hollenbeck (@EPHS_APCP) July 21, 2018
Funeral arrangements are not yet set, but a service will be held at St. Hubert Catholic Community in Chanhassen next week.
Find out what's happening in Eden Prairiefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
.@katiepudas taught us to love by example. She was a generous spirit, a devoted friend, and a miracle to those who knew her. I am a better person because her life touched mine, and I am simply devastated.
— Peter Morgan (@PetryDish1) July 20, 2018
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