A law student died when a driver who was fleeing from officers ran a red light and struck the car in which she was riding in southeast Houston, police said.

The crash happened in the 4100 block of Dowling at Cleburne streets at 11:20 p.m. Tuesday.

"It seems that the suspect on the original scene came down at a high rate of speed, running the red light," said Sgt. Craig Bigger with the Houston Police Department.

Investigators said the driver slammed into a Nissan Altima carrying three females at the intersection. Halley Catherine Shaw, 27, was in the back seat and died at the scene. Police said she was in her second year of law school at Texas Southern University.

"She was a courageous leader," classmate Nana Asare said. "I feel like we've lost a huge personality here on campus."

Two others in the Altima were taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Officers said the driver who caused the crash took off running on Cleburne Street. He remained at large Wednesday.

Investigators said police tried to question the driver a few minutes earlier a mile away after a resident called 911 about a suspicious car parked in the 3900 block of Hamilton Street.

"When the unit arrived on that scene, he observed the suspect's vehicle sitting in the street. There were two males in the vehicle at the time," Bigger said.

An officer ordered the driver and his passenger out of the vehicle. The passenger complied, but the driver drove off down Cleburne Street, investigators said, causing the fatal crash.

"The suspect's car flipped on its side and he got out of it and ran down the road," Bigger said.

According to police, the passenger in the suspect's car will not face any charges and is cooperating with the investigation.

Investigators said they know the name of the driver. When found, he will be charged with failure to stop and render aid.

Dozens of people gathered at the law school Wednesday afternoon to remember Shaw, who was from the Dallas area.

"Had a great sense of humor, and she wasn't afraid to tell anybody what was right or wrong," friend Phillip Larmond said.

Friends also set up a memorial at the crash scene.

"We want folks to remember her and not forget her," Asare said.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the HPD Hit and Run Unit at 713-247-4065 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.