Six Indians from Michigan die in a Pennsylvania Car Crash

Update from Detroit News:

The minivan carrying seven Troy employees was traveling in the far left lane of eastbound Interstate 90, then drifted over rumble strips and swerved several times before crossing into oncoming traffic, an eyewitness told the Pennsylvania State Police.

"According to this, it sounds like operator error," Cpl. Kevin Havern said Monday

The rented Dodge Caravan was weighted down with backpacks and food for a weekend getaway for the seven people aboard. Police said Monday that could have made handling the vehicle difficult.

Six Indians (4 were employees of Troy, MI based Syntel Inc.) from Michigan died in a Pennsylvania Crash on Saturday, May 10, 2008. They were traveling in a minivan heading to Niagara Falls. The minivan crossed a median on Interstate 90 and hit an oncoming car near West Springfield, Pennsylvania.

Detroit News is reporting that Minivan driver Kaushik Deb (26) of Troy, died on impact. Others who died are Manoj Jharia (35), Mili Jharia (28), Nitin Agarwal (29), Swati Singhal (25) and Subham Choudhary (24). They all appeared to live in communities throughout Oakland County.

Detroit News further states that the Jharias were married, as were Agarwal and Singhal. Neither couple had children. All of the victims’ families are primarily in India. Mili Jharia and Swati Singhal did not work for Syntel.

The only survivor, Nitin Gupta, 28, was sitting in the front passenger seat, police said. He was treated and released from a hospital Saturday.

Donations for funeral expenses can be sent to the Syntel Accident Fund, 525 E. Big Beaver Road, Suite 300, Troy, Mich., 48032.