Chicago (United States), May 18 (IANS): A 25-year-old Indian student identified as Navya Gadusu lost her life and six others were injured in a tragic road accident along Interstate 65 near Crown Point in Lake County, Indiana, near Chicago, late on Saturday night, officials confirmed on Monday. The Lake County Coroner’s Office confirmed that Gadusu was pronounced dead at 12:16 a.m. on Sunday due to blunt force traumatic injuries suffered in the crash. The Indian Consulate General in Chicago expressed deep grief over the student’s death, stating it was in constant touch with the bereaved family and with friends and community members assisting those injured in the accident. According to the Indiana State Police, the accident occurred at approximately 11:15 p.m. on Saturday when a red minivan carrying seven adults was travelling at a very slow speed of 10 to 15 miles per hour behind another vehicle facing mechanical issues, and a car approaching from behind failed to realise how slowly the minivan was moving and attempted to swerve left to avoid a collision, striking the left side of the minivan with force and causing it to veer off the roadway and plunge into a ditch.
Further investigation revealed that the minivan was fitted with only two front seats, with the remaining five passengers seated on boxes of mangoes without wearing seat belts at the time of the accident, raising serious safety concerns. Authorities clarified that the vehicle suffering from mechanical trouble, which the minivan had been following, was not involved in the collision. The circumstances surrounding the crash are currently under investigation by the Indiana State Police. The incident has drawn widespread attention to the safety of Indian students studying abroad, with the Indian Consulate reaffirming its commitment to supporting the affected families and the broader community during this difficult time.