BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Four people reported missing from Buffalo were found dead Saturday night in West Virginia after a vehicle crash, the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office announced.
The victims were identified by officials as retired local doctor Kishore Divan, 89, Asha Divan, 85, Shailesh Divan, 87, and Gita Divan, 81.
From left to right, Asha Divan, Kishore Divan, Shailesh Divan and Gita Divan. Courtesy: Dinesh Parekh
Officials said their vehicle was found at 9:30 p.m. off a steep embankment along Big Wheeling Creek Road in Wheeling, which is about 20 miles from the Pennsylvania border. They were pronounced dead on the scene. First responders were reportedly on the scene for over five hours.
The Marshall County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a family member of the four victims, who said they left Buffalo earlier this week to go to Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold in Moundsville, W. Va.
They planned to stop in Pittsburgh, Pa., on the way and check into the Palace Lodge on July 29 and out on July 30, but the lodge said no one checked in, police said. Detectives worked with authorities in New York state and tried to locate them through digital records, but were unable to.
A group of people were driving on Big Wheeling Creek Road and saw a damaged sign and vehicle debris in the road, which is when police found Kishore, Asha, Shailesh and Gita, according to the sheriff’s office.
Close friends of the family said they were an instrumental part of the Hindu community in the area.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of one of our founding members and his family from this tragic death,” said Dr. Vinod Chahal, president of the Hindu Cultural Society of Western New York.
“They were the pillars of the society … this building is the testament to their contribution,” said Dr. Dinesh Sukumaran, general secretary of the Hindu Cultural Society of Western New York.
“Dr. Kishore Divan was a former member of Kaleida Health’s Medical/Dental Staff,” Kaleida Health said in a statement. “Our deepest condolences are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
The investigation remains ongoing.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo. You can view more of her work here.
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