Tragic deaths: Missing Indian-origin family of four found dead in US car crash

Four Indian-origin senior citizens from New York who went missing during a road trip to a spiritual retreat in West Virginia were found dead following a vehicle crash on Saturday night, confirmed Marshal County Sheriff Mike Dougherty.

The victims—Asha Divan (85), Kishore Divan (89), Shailesh Divan (86), and Gita Divan (84)—were travelling from Buffalo to Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold, a renowned ISKCON spiritual destination in Marshall County.

Authorities located their 2009 light green Toyota Camry (New York licence plate EKW2611) in a mangled state off a steep embankment along Big Wheeling Creek Road. The remote location delayed rescue efforts, with first responders reaching the scene more than five hours later. The wreckage was discovered around 9:30pm (local time) on Saturday, according to the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office.

The family was last spotted on July 29 at a Burger King outlet in Pennsylvania. CCTV footage captured two members of the group entering the restaurant, and their final known credit card transaction was logged at the same location. A Pennsylvania State Police licence plate reader later detected their vehicle heading south on Interstate 79.

The Divans had planned to stay at the Palace of Gold on the night of July 29. However, WTRF.com reported that they never arrived, triggering concern and a coordinated search effort across multiple counties. Deputies from both Marshall and Ohio counties were involved in tracking their whereabouts.

A missing persons report was filed in Buffalo, and the vehicle’s details were entered into the National Crime Information Center. Cell tower data last detected the group’s mobile phones around 3am (local time) on Wednesday in Moundsville, West Virginia. Over the next four days, law enforcement deployed helicopters and additional resources to aid the search.

The Council of Heritage and Arts of India (CHAI), a nonprofit based in Williamsville, New York, also joined the effort. “Two couples who were travelling are currently missing, and we’re all deeply concerned,” said CHAI President Sibu Nair during the search.

Sheriff Dougherty expressed condolences to the families of the victims and confirmed that a formal investigation is underway. “Further information will be released upon the completion of the investigation,” he stated.

With inputs from Agencies