Four Indians Killed In Multi-Vehicle Collision In US While Carpooling

Four Indians, including a woman, died after the SUV they were travelling in burst into flames in a multi-vehicle crash in Texas, the United States. The fire left their bodies severely charred, and authorities are now using DNA testing to confirm their identities.

The accident took place on Friday (August 30). The four had connected via a carpooling app and were on the way to Bentonville, Arkansas.

According to a report with The Times Of India, at least five vehicles were involved in the multi-vehicle crash.

While the four Indians died on the spot after a speeding truck rammed their SUV, three others sustained injuries in the accident, the report stated.

The deceased were identified as Aryan Raghunath Orampati and his friend Farooq Shaik from Hyderabad, Lokesh Palacharla from East Godavari in Andhra Pradesh, and Dharshini Vasudevan from Tamil Nadu, the report quoted the city police as saying.

Orampati and his friend Shaik were returning home after visiting a relative in Dallas. Palacharla was heading to Bentonville to meet his wife, while Vasudevan, a master’s degree graduate from the University of Texas, was travelling to visit her uncle, it stated.

Mastan Vali, the father of Farooq Shaik, told TOI that his son had been in the US for the last three years and recently completed his M.S. course. His daughter, who also resides in the US, is working with the authorities there regarding Farooq’s remains, he said.

SOCIAL MEDIA POST BY DHARSHINI’s FATHER

On August 31, hours after Dharshini died in the car crash, her father, in separate X posts, sought help from the Minister of External Affairs, in locating his daughter.

In the post, Vasudevan mentioned her daughter was travelling from Frisco to Bentonville, and that his family had been unable to reach out to her for nearly 12 hours.

Tagging EAM S Jaishankar, Vasudevan wrote, “Dear Sir, My daughter Dharshini Vasudevan holding Indian passport No-T6215559 have been in USA for the last 3 years, 2 years of MS studies and later 1 year of Employment and stays 3150 Avenue of the stars Apt 1110-Frisco,Texas-75034.” (sic).

“The travel was from Frisco to Bentonville (her uncle home) since it’s a long weekend she pre booked for the travel. We parents are really worried and it’s almost 12 hours we don’t the status of our daughter. Please help,” his second post read.

The accident had not been reported at the time of Vasudevan’s tweet.