By Natasha Kellett

One of Meredith Marzilli’s favorite pastimes was spending summers and weekends at her grandparents’ home on Cape Cod, especially when it meant bringing friends along during the school year, recalled her friend, senior journalism major Courtney Caterino.

Ms. Marzilli, a senior accounting major, died early Sunday morning in a single-car crash when her father, who was driving, was overcome by a medical condition.

Ms. Marzilli, 22, and father, Anthony Marzilli, 57, were on Route 9 heading east when her father suddenly became incapacitated, Gordon said. Ms. Marzilli managed to take control of the wheel, successfully steering around other vehicles before the car ultimately swerved into a grassy area, flipping and hitting a guard rail. The movement caused the car to flip again, ultimately ejecting Ms. Marzilli from the car, he said. She was pronounced dead at UMass Memorial Medical Center.

“He had a medical problem and Meredith undid her seat belt in an effort to take control of the wheel,” said Westborough Police Chief Alan Gordon.

Ms. Marzilli regularly went home to Shrewsbury for family dinners and to stay in touch with friends from high school, friends said.

“She had a huge family … she loved being at home with her family,” Caterino said. “Her friends meant everything to her. She loved where she grew up.”

Senior English major Victoria Lambkin recalled Ms. Marzilli’s energetic personality and infectious smile.

“One of the things Meredith did was make the people around her happy,” Lambkin said. “It was never something she did intentionally, it just kind of happened because she was so outgoing and happy.”

Caterino said Ms. Marzilli remained close with the same group of friends she met during freshman orientation, who called themselves “the Fam.”

“The people she met all through the first year were really close,” Caterino said. “We really saw each other grow through the five years, and we were really looking forward to being together forever.”

Besides spending time with her family and friends, Caterino said Ms. Marzilli’s greatest passions were dancing and accounting. She danced throughout her childhood, was a cheerleader in high school, was a member of Boston’s Dance Alliance and danced at Northeastern.

“She always wanted to go into accounting and have her dance studio one day. It was always the two of those together,” Caterino said.

Ms. Marzilli spent time as a co-op with Pioneer Investments and WTAS to work toward a career in accounting, and was offered a position with WTAS after graduation, she said.

“She was extremely smart. Everyone who ever had classes with her always said how easy numbers were for her,” Caterino said. “She was on her way to being very successful. She was very driven.”

“We want everyone to know she was the greatest friend,” Caterino said. “We will never forget her. She will always be with us. We will always be with her.”

“Our sincere and heartfelt condolences go out to her family and friends at this very difficult time,” President Joseph Aoun said in an announcement. “Most especially, we send our prayers and thoughts to Meredith’s father who sustained serious injuries from the accident.”

Along with her father, Ms. Marzilli is survived by her mother, Elaine; her brother, Christopher and her sister-in-law, Liza. Memorial services are being planned on campus and in Shrewsbury, although details were unavailable as of press time.

Family members could not be reached for comment.