Tragedy in the U.S.: 4 Elderly Indian-Origin Family Members Found Dead After Car Crash During Road Trip

Four senior citizens of Indian origin, who had been missing for five days during a road trip in the United States, were tragically found dead after their car was discovered in a ravine. The Marshall County Sheriff’s Office confirmed on Sunday that the family died in a car crash along Big Wheeling Creek Road.

The victims – Dr. Kishore Divan (89), Asha Divan (85), Shailesh Divan (86), and Gita Divan (84) – were last seen on July 29 at a Burger King outlet on Peach Street in Erie, Pennsylvania. Their last known credit card transaction occurred there before they set off toward Palace of Gold, a renowned religious destination in West Virginia associated with ISKCON.

Their vehicle, a light green Toyota Camry with a New York license plate (EKW2611), was found in a mangled state off a steep embankment. The crash site was in such a remote location that it took rescue crews over five hours to reach it.

Sheriff Mike Dougherty expressed his condolences and stated that an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash.

The family was expected to check in at Palace of Gold on the night of July 29, but never arrived. Their cell phones had stopped pinging around 3 a.m. on Wednesday in the Moundsville area. Extensive search efforts, including helicopter surveillance, had been carried out over the past few days.

The tragedy has raised concerns within the Indian diaspora in the U.S., especially as it follows the disappearance of a 24-year-old Indian woman, Simran, in June shortly after arriving in New Jersey for an arranged marriage. Authorities suspect she may have used the trip as a means to escape marriage and start a new life in the U.S.

The Indian Embassy and local authorities are working together to ensure all support is provided to the grieving families.