A tragic car accident in the US state of Texas claimed the lives of five individuals, including three members of an Indian-origin family. The accident occurred on Wednesday near Lampasas County, leaving behind a community in shock and mourning.
The deceased, identified as Arvind Mani (45), his wife Pradeepa Arvind (40) and their 17-year-old daughter Andril Arvind, were residents of Leander, Texas. The family was traveling in a 2024 Kia Telluride driven by Arvind Mani. Their 14-year-old son Adiryan was not in the vehicle as he had started school that day. Andril, a recent graduate of Rouse High School, was on her way to the University of Dallas, where she planned to pursue a degree in computer science.
The collision involved a 2004 Cadillac CTS driven by 31-year-old Jacinto Gudino Duran of Copperas Cove. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the accident occurred when the Cadillac, traveling southbound on US Route 281, experienced a right rear tire blowout. The blowout caused the driver to lose control, sending the vehicle across the median and into the northbound lane where it collided head-on with the Kia Telluride.
Witnesses reported that the Cadillac had been traveling at a high speed before the crash. The impact of the collision was severe, leaving both vehicles heavily damaged. All five occupants of the two vehicles were pronounced dead at the scene. In addition to the Indian-origin family, the accident claimed the lives of Jacinto Gudino Duran and his 23-year-old passenger, Yosilu Gasman Martinez-Lopez, also of Copperas Cove.
Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Bryan Washko described the accident as one of the worst he had witnessed in his 26 years on the job, due to the extent of the damage and the number of lives lost.
This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of road safety and the potentially devastating consequences of vehicle malfunctions. It also highlights the devastating impact of such accidents on families and communities, leaving behind a profound sense of loss and grief.
