The victims, Dr Kishore Divan, Asha Divan, Shailesh Divan, and Gita Divan, were found deceased in a light green Toyota Camry that had veered off a steep embankment. (Image: Facebook/@Marshall County Sheriff's Office)
A tragic end has been confirmed in the search for four Indian-origin family members who went missing during a road trip from Buffalo, New York, to West Virginia. Authorities recovered their bodies from a crashed vehicle in Marshall County, West Virginia, late Saturday night.
The victims, Dr Kishore Divan, Asha Divan, Shailesh Divan, and Gita Divan, were found deceased in a light green Toyota Camry that had veered off a steep embankment.
The Divan family was last seen on Tuesday, July 29, around 2:45 pm at a Burger King on Peach Street in Erie, Pennsylvania. Surveillance footage showed two members entering the fast-food outlet, which marked the last confirmed sighting. The family’s most recent credit card transaction also occurred at the same location.
According to Pennsylvania State Police, a license plate reader later captured their vehicle heading south on Interstate 79, toward their intended destination, Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold, a spiritual retreat in Moundsville, West Virginia. However, they never checked into their pre-booked accommodation.
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Marshall County Sheriff Mike Dougherty confirmed the discovery of their vehicle on August 2 at approximately 9:30 pm. The car was located off a steep embankment on Big Wheeling Creek Road. Emergency personnel remained at the scene for over five hours to retrieve the victims and secure the area.
“The four individuals who were reported missing from Buffalo, New York, have been found deceased following a vehicle crash. The victims have been identified as Dr. Kishore Divan, Mrs. Asha Divan, Mr. Shailesh Divan, and Mrs. Gita Divan. Their vehicle was located on Saturday, August 2, at approximately 9:30 PM, off a steep embankment along Big Wheeling Creek Road. First responders were on the scene for more than five hours. Sheriff Dougherty extends condolences to the families of the victims. Further information will be released upon the completion of the investigation,” Marshall County Sheriff’s Office.
Cell tower pings indicated the family’s mobile devices were last active around 3 am on Wednesday, near Moundsville and Wheeling, raising hope for their safety. Despite this lead, no further contact was made. Local and state law enforcement, including Pennsylvania and West Virginia officials, conducted a multi-agency search operation. Surveillance images and vehicle descriptions were made public in hopes of gathering leads.
The exact cause of the crash is still under investigation. The possibility of mechanical breakdown or a loss of vehicle control on the twisty mountain routes is one that authorities have not ruled out.
