Three Indian students killed in crash on border of Massachusetts and New York, several injured

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In a terrible accident on Oct. 25, 2022 morning, 3 Indian students of Telugu heritage, were killed and five others people were hospitalized with injuries.

The incident happened in Massachusetts near the border with New York state, near Albany, when the minivan carrying the students and a pickup truck crashed.

The students are from University of New Haven and Sacred Heart University, Connecticut, according to a GoFundMe page dedicated to raising funds to support the victims and their families.

Sudhakar Jale, a family member of Prem Kumar Goda, said on the GoFundMe site he said up, “Our deepest condolences to the deceased and pray that the injured will recover soon.” An amount of $42,928 was raised as of October 27, with a goal of raising $100,000.

The other two students killed were Sai Narasimha Patamsetti, 22, of Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh and Pavani Gullapally, 22, of Warangal in Telangana, according to Indo-Asian News Service (IANS).

Jale, in his account on the fundraising site says Prem Kumar Goda, who died, is the son of Jale’s cousin. Goda’s parents and sister live in India, and Goda, an engineering graduate, had come to the U.S. three months ago for his Masters.

The news outlet The Berkshire Eagle, in its report shows the destruction of a white minivan, a Toyota Sienna. The crash took place with a GMC, a Chevrolet pickup truck, in the early morning hours. Seven people were in the minivan. Photos also show extensive destruction of the truck. However, both drivers survived as did 3 of the seven passengers.

Police are investigating how the crash happened and do refer to heavy rain and poor visibility at the time, the Eagle reported.

Jale, in his GoFuneMe appeal, says Goda was from a “very poor” family which had borrowed money to send him to the U.S. and their debt was “huge.”

“All the funds will be transferred to Prem’s sister, Yamini’s bank account. A proof of the payment will be uploaded here as soon as the transfer is done,” Jale said on the fundraising site.