Three Members of Indian American Family Killed in Deadly Car Crash in Texas; 14-year-old Son is Sole Survivor
- The Arvinds were on their way to drop their 17-year-old daughter at the University of Texas at Dallas to begin freshman year.
What was supposed to be a day of excitement and new beginnings turned into a tragedy as three members of an Indian American family were killed in a car crash in Texas. Arvind Mani, 45, his wife Pradeepa Arvind, 40, and their daughter Andril Arvind, 17, were involved in the fatal accident on July 14 early morning. The family was on their way to the University of Texas at Dallas to move into Andril when the deadly crash occurred, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The couple has a 14-year-old son Adiryan, who didn’t travel with them, as he the ninth grader was starting his first day of high school.
The crash took place when a 2004 Cadillac traveling southbound experienced a rear tyre blowout, causing it to lose control and drift into oncoming traffic. The Cadillac car then collided head-on with a Kia Telluride car, which was driven by Mani.
6 News reported that the Cadillac driver — 31-year-old Jacinto Gudino Duran of Copperas Cove — and co-passenger —identified only as “a 23-year-old female” also died in the crash. Witnesses told DPS the Cadillac had passed them at a “very high rate of speed.”
Meanwhile, family friend Rajaraman Venkatachalam, who has started a GoFundMe page to support Adiryan, wrote that life for the Arvind family was “filled with joy, especially as they recently celebrated Andril’s admission to the University of Texas at Dallas to study computer science.” But, “on their way to the UTD campus, the family’s vehicle was involved in a devastating accident,” he continued. “With no fault of their own, Aravind, Pradeepa, and Andril lost their lives,” leaving Adrian without his family.
“This young boy, with so many dreams and aspirations, needs our help for funeral, legal, and ongoing care including educational expenses. This will help him to navigate the difficult road ahead along with his uncle’s family living in Austin.” Venkatachalam described the couple as “stalwart in the community and an integral part of our Austin Indian community.”
(Top photo: GoFundMe)