Student Wrote Own Obit: Boston University Grad Christopher Weigl Writes Colorful Mock Obit before Dying in Tragic Bike Crash

Just months before dying in a tragic bike crash on Commonwealth Ave. in Boston, Boston University Graduate student Christopher Weigl wrote his own colorful mock-obituary which was featured in the prestigious Boston Globe. 23-year-old Weigl wrote the fake obit for a class assignment back in September, where he described his love for photojournalism, music, and the outdoors.  Weigl passed away on Thursday (Dec. 6), after he was involved in a crash where his bike collided with a 16-wheeler tractor trailer. Weigl was pronounced dead at the scene when police finally arrived.

Weigl's College of Communication professor described him as "the ideal student: smart, mature, curious." In the mock obituary written back in September, Weigl reminisced about how he first discovered that he wanted to pursue a carrier in photojournalism - it was during a trip to Southeast Asia following graduation from Skidmore College when he did a story about the government takeover of a Cambodian island. The Southborough, MA native also vibrantly described his love for music and the outdoors. The bogus obituary was so well-written, that the Boston Globe decided to reprint it. View the Globe's touching report and obit here:

In Weigl's words,

"Lifelong Massachusetts resident and Boston University graduate student Christopher Weigl, 22, passed away September 5 after protracted complications stemming from obituary writing.

Christopher was born in Framingham and lived most of his life in Southborough. An avid outdoorsman, Christopher obtained the rank of Eagle Scout at age 14 and remained an active member of Boy Scout Troop 1 till his 18th birthday.

In addition to scouting, Christopher was an accomplished clarinet player throughout his years of schooling, and played in a variety of ensembles including the Central District Band and Orchestra, MetroWest Youth Symphony Orchestra, and Worcester Youth Symphony ­Orchestra.

After graduating from Worcester Academy in 2007, Christopher matriculated at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Although eventually deciding upon a bachelor's in English, photography supplanted ­music as the central passion of Christopher's life, and he could often be found shooting campus events for the student paper or the school's communications department.

By graduation, Christopher had served as Photography Club president as well as photography editor of the Skidmore News. These pursuits were in addition to internships with Panorama Magazine, Emma Dodge ­Hanson Photography, and KCK Photography, as well as a semester abroad in Florence to take more specialized photography classes.

After graduation, Christopher indulged his love of travel by embarking on a six-week trip through Operation Groundswell, a voluntourism organization, to find a story and do service projects in Cambodia and Thailand. It was on the little Cambodian island of Koh Rong, where he interviewed locals and uncovered a government takeover of the island, that Christopher found a story and cemented his love for photojournalism. The experience in Southeast Asia seeded the first thoughts of graduate school, and after a year of working at Ritz Camera, driving limousines, building a photography business, and freelance reporting for the weekly Community Advocate, Christopher moved to Brighton to ­attend BU's photojournalism masters program.

Christopher leaves his parents, Bonnie and Andy Weigl, his brother Dustin, and cat Ivy."

Weigl was tragically struck by a truck at the intersection of St. Paul Street and Commonwealth Avenue near the Boston University campus on his way to class on Thursday. The incident is still under investigation and the driver of the tractor-trailer has not been charged.

Boston University President Robert Brown announced that University public safety officials are currently working with Boston officials to "better understand the causes of this accident." Brown recently stated, "As most of you know, this is the second fatal bicycle accident in our community this fall. We are very concerned about the dangers faced by members of our community who must navigate the streets on and near our campus, especially bicyclists and pedestrians."

Thoughts and condolences go out to Weigl's friends, family, and the entire BU community.