Fatal Pilgrimage: Four Elderly Indian Americans Found Dead After Car Crash Near West Virginia Religious Site
Four elderly Indian American family members from Buffalo, New York, were found dead Saturday night following a tragic car crash in West Virginia during what was intended to be a spiritual pilgrimage to a renowned religious site.
The victims have been identified by Marshall County Sheriff Mike Dougherty as Dr. Kishore Divan, 89; Asha Divan, 85; Shailesh Divan, 86; and Gita Divan, 84. The family had been traveling from Buffalo to visit Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold, a well-known ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) religious site in Moundsville, Marshall County.
According to the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, the victims’ vehicle – a 2009 lime green Toyota Camry with New York license plates – was discovered around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 2, down a steep embankment along Big Wheeling Creek Road. The location was approximately eight miles from their intended spiritual destination.
The Divan family had been reported missing since July 29 after they failed to check into their planned hotel accommodations. This prompted authorities in West Virginia to launch a comprehensive search operation on Saturday, working with law enforcement agencies across multiple states.
“Their vehicle was located on Saturday, August 2, at approximately 9:30 PM, off a steep embankment along Big Wheeling Creek Road,” the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office stated in an official Facebook post. Sheriff Dougherty confirmed the fatal crash and expressed condolences to the families of the victims.
Religious Pilgrimage Cut Short
The Palace of Gold, where the family had planned to spend time in religious reflection and worship, is described as a well-known destination for devotees seeking spiritual renewal and connection with their faith traditions. The ISKCON temple complex in Marshall County attracts visitors from across the United States and internationally.
Local news station WGRZ reported that Western New York authorities began coordinating with West Virginia officials after the family’s disappearance, highlighting the multi-jurisdictional nature of the search effort.
Dr. Kishore Divan was identified by local Buffalo media as a retired physician, underscoring the family’s established roots in the Western New York community. The tragic loss has resonated throughout both the local Indian American community in Buffalo and the broader religious community that frequents the West Virginia spiritual site.
The Marshall County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash. The steep terrain along Big Wheeling Creek Road where the vehicle was discovered suggests challenging driving conditions may have contributed to the accident.
While authorities have confirmed the deaths resulted from the vehicle crash, the specific cause of the accident remains under investigation. The remote location where the car was found indicates the family may have been navigating unfamiliar rural roads en route to their spiritual destination.
The incident underscores the risks faced by elderly travelers, particularly when navigating unfamiliar terrain during long-distance journeys. The family’s pilgrimage, which began as a spiritual journey, ended in tragedy just miles from their intended destination.
Marshall County Sheriff Mike Dougherty’s office has not released additional details about the crash pending the ongoing investigation.