Four members of Indian American family die in California car crash

Four members of an Indian American family lost their lives in a fatal car crash in Pleasanton, California, on Wednesday night.

According to the local ABC7 News, the Pleasanton Police Department stated that the crash involved a single car and took place around 9 p.m. on Foothill Road near Stoneridge Drive.

While the authorities are still in the process of notifying the next of kin, emalayalee.com, a Malayalam language publication, identified the victims as Tharun George, his wife, and their two children.

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George, who was from Thiruvalla in Kerala, India, worked for a tech company, according to the publication.

Police have indicated that they are currently uncertain whether speed played a role in the accident or if alcohol was a contributing factor. However, they have ruled out foul play.

Following the crash, the family’s electric car caught fire, which reignited multiple times while investigators were clearing the scene, ABC7News reported.

In a statement posted on the web, the Pleasanton Police Department stated, “We are conducting a thorough investigation and do not have additional information at this point. We will release further details as they become available. For now, our priority is protecting the victims’ identities as we notify family and complete our investigation.”

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Pleasanton is roughly 40 miles to the east of San Francisco.

The Pleasanton Unified School District confirmed that the children involved in the crash were students at their schools. Patrick Gannon, the district’s Director of Communication, expressed sorrow over the incident, describing it as tragic and somber.

In response to the tragedy, the school district announced that it would be providing additional counseling and support resources to students through at least Friday.

Throughout Thursday, individuals, including loved ones, friends, and even strangers, gathered at the crash site to pay their respects. Hasan Shaikh, who had worked with the father at a tech company in the South Bay, shared fond memories of him, describing him as a nice, energetic person, ABC7News reported.

READ: Car crash leaves Indian tech professional from Virginia paralyzed (November 5, 2019)

Shaikh did not disclose the family’s identity, emphasizing the need to respect the authorities’ process. He expressed deep sadness over the loss, highlighting the family’s positive attributes and the impact they had on those around them.