3 Indian Citizens Dead and 1 Injured in Car Crash in Oregon During Memorial Day Weekend
- The accident occurred when two cars collided head-on with an eastbound Mazda M3, driven by Jagadish Chandrasekaren, 31, of Seattle, Washington.
Three Indian citizens died, and one was seriously injured in a car crash in Oregon on May 30 morning. According to a press release issued by the Oregon State Police, a Taurus and Chrysler Town and Country collided head-on with an eastbound Mazda M3, driven by Jagadish Chandrasekaren (top photo), 31, of Seattle, Washington. There were three others in the car were also from Seattle — Adharsh Murali, 25, and Jignesh Modi, 27, who sustained fatal injuries and were pronounced deceased; while Puneeth Gattikoppula, 24, was transported by air ambulance to the hospital with serious injuries.
The accident occurred during the busy Memorial Day weekend when the Taurus, driven by James Johnson, 31, of Oakridge, Oregon, westbound when he attempted to pass in a no passing zone and collided with a westbound Chrysler Town and Country, driven by Michael Cary, 63, also of Oakridge. Oregon police say a fourth vehicle, possibly a blue pickup was involved in the crash but left the scene without providing information.
Various Indian American organizations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, have scheduled a virtual prayer meeting for departed souls and recovery for Gattikoppula on June 1.
There is not much information available on the deceased. In a Facebook page — SOS Global Indians — Rohit Reddy, brother of Puneeth Gattikoppula, who was seriously injured, reached out to group members seeking information on getting a visa to the U.S. from Germany, where Reddy is currently located. “I am an Indian citizen living in Germany,” he wrote. “My brother lives in Seattle, USA. He along with his friends met with a fatal accident today. Three people died and he is critically injured. The doctor said it takes months for my brother to recover. He also advised a family member should be present so that they can take care of him. Could anyone please guide me on how to get an Emergency Visa from Germany to the USA for an Indian.”
Friends have started a GoFundMe page to help them with the funeral expenses for Chandrasekaran, known to his friends as Jag. “Jag was and will be one of the kindest souls that you will ever come across,” they say on the GoFundMe page. “He was like a family to all his friends. His calm demeanor and an ever smiling face is one we can never ever forget.” The funds raised will go to Chandrasekaran’s family back in India who is mostly dependent on him, the page said.