By: Vibhuti Pathak
Three Gujarati women residing in the United States tragically lost their lives in a car crash in South Carolina. The incident occurred on April 26 at noon on the Staunton Bridge along Interstate 85 near Lakeside Road. The SUV they were traveling in veered off the road, crashed into trees, and launched into the air.
The victims, identified as Rekha Dilip Patel, Sangita Bhavnesh Patel, and Manisha Rajendra Patel, originally hailed from Gujarat’s Anand district but had settled in the US. Sangita’s father remained in Gujarat, while the rest of the family had migrated to the US long ago.
“I have learnt that my daughter and two other women have died in a road accident on Friday in the US. A fourth woman, also a relative, has been admitted to a hospital there. They were going for an outing,” said Vitthalbhai Patel, father of Sangita.
Chief Deputy Coroner Mike Ellis confirmed the accident, stating, “When the vehicle jumped all four lanes of traffic, it struck trees probably at least 20 feet above the ground. It’s obvious that they were traveling above the posted speed limit and for some reason left the roadway. Unsure exactly why at this time.”
The crash has left the community in shock, with prayers offered for the departed souls in their villages. Niranjan Patel, a resident of Vasna (Borsad), mentioned that a prayer meeting was organized in their village for the three women. Investigations are ongoing to ascertain the cause of the accident, with authorities indicating that the SUV’s speed exceeded the posted limit. The injured driver has been hospitalized, and efforts to determine the circumstances leading to the crash are underway, with multiple emergency response units involved in the scene’s management.
