Phoenix:
A very unfortunate accident on the eve of Pongal, killed father and daughter in north Phoenix, originally from Andhra. Both of them died on the spot while driving back from grocery shopping on Sunday Evening. Ramesh Bolla; 54 years was with his daughter Chaithanya Bolla; a 21 year old, and were pulling over, just when a truck collided with their Sedan and the two were dead on the scene.
This incident took place near 35th Avenue and Bell road, in North Phoenix and prompted road closure for the night. The suspect, a 21 year old man driving the truck was believed to be impaired and under heavy influence of drugs, he was also believed to be speeding when the collision occurred. The identity of the 21 year old person is yet not released and investigation is underway.
Ramesh Bolla was pulling out his sedan, from a private driveway after grocery pickup. He was heading towards left, to take north on 35th Ave when a southbound truck driven by a 21 year old impaired and speeding man, collided with them. The impact of the crash was extremely fatal,and both father and daughter died soon after.
Detective Marianne Ramirez, after an on-scene investigation conducted on Monday at Paradise Lane until bell Road, stated, “Investigators processed the suspect for impairment. Impairment and speed may have been a factor in this collision”
Ramesh Bolla from Guntur, in Andhra Pradesh came to the US 10 years ago. He was staying in Arizona for the past 4 years, while Chaitanya graduated from Westview High School and was in her final semester of the NYU Tandon School of Engineering. Ramesh is survived by his wife Padmaja Bolla who is a homemaker from Andhra Pradesh; India and his mother who stays in India. This was a very disastrous day for the family, on a very sacred day of Pongal. The very hopes and dreams of entire family shattered as they lost their only child Chaitanya and her father in a dreadful accident involving drugs.
Venkat Kommineni, President of the Arizona Telugu Association expressed his deep and heartfelt condolences to Padmaja and her grieving family, on this unfortunate incident. He said, “His (Ramesh’s) wife is a homemaker and she is not working, the daughter (Chaitanya) is the only daughter they have. She lost everything from the financial point of view and from the family point of view. It is a very tragic and very emotional thing.”
Kommineni stated that the family was closely tied with their friends and family back in India despite being in the US from past decade. He also stated, “Since Sunday night my phone has been ringing constantly. We are far away from our homeland, but even when we are here we are all together. Everybody is supporting them, not only the Indian people but the local people also.”
Ramesh’s wife and Chaithanya’s mother is left alone now with Ramesh mother, bearing the loss of her husband and daughter. As their immediately family is back in India, they have decided to move the bodies of both Ramesh and Chaitanya to India for their final rites.
The entire Indian community in Arizona and entire US is in a state of shock for this calamitous incident on the very day of the auspicious Pongal. Both Indians and locals from the US are helping the family in going back to India. A gofundme page has been set up by Thirumala Rao Singamaneni, to help the grieving family in this critical time, for financial support in taking the bodies to India. Around $119908 is already raised in a day and more people are adding to the fundraiser.
Police are still investigating and testing the surviving victim driver, but he has not been arrested yet. More news to follow.
