4 Indian-origin family members missing in US on way to temple

Marshall County, West Virginia – A tragic incident has claimed the lives of four Indian-origin family members in the United States. The victims, identified as Dr. Kishore Divan, Mrs. Asha Divan, Mr. Shailesh Divan, and Mrs. Gita Divan, were reported missing earlier this week during a road trip from Buffalo, New York, to West Virginia.

According to Marshall County Sheriff Mike Dougherty, the family’s light green Toyota Camry was discovered at around 9:30 pm on Saturday, August 2, off a steep embankment along Big Wheeling Creek Road. Authorities confirmed that all four occupants were found dead at the scene. First responders worked for over five hours to recover the vehicle and the victims.

Timeline of Events

The family was last seen around 2:45 pm on Tuesday, July 29, at a Burger King on Peach Street in Erie, Pennsylvania. Surveillance footage showed two members entering the restaurant — the last confirmed sighting before the tragedy. Their final credit card transaction also took place at that location.

Later, a Pennsylvania State Trooper’s license plate reader detected their car traveling south on Interstate 79 toward Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold, a popular spiritual retreat in Moundsville, West Virginia. However, they never arrived at their pre-booked accommodation.

Authorities conducted an extensive search, with cellphone tower pings indicating that their devices were last active around 3 am Wednesday in Moundsville and Wheeling. Despite efforts from multiple agencies and public appeals for information, no contact was made with the family until their vehicle was found.

Investigation Underway

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Sheriff Dougherty expressed his condolences, stating,

“We know this is not the outcome anyone had hoped for. We are grateful for the public’s assistance during the search and will continue to work with partner agencies to determine what happened.”

The Marshall County Sheriff’s Office had earlier released surveillance images and vehicle details in hopes of generating leads. A missing persons report had also been filed in Buffalo.

This tragic loss has deeply saddened the community, with condolences pouring in for the family. Further details are expected once the investigation concludes.

Keywords: Indian-origin family US, Buffalo missing family, West Virginia car crash, Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold accident, Big Wheeling Creek Road accident, Dr Kishore Divan