Two Indian Students Killed in Head-On Car Crash Near Lake Pleasant, Arizona

Two Indian students, Nivesh Mukka and Goutham Parsi, both 19 years old, were tragically killed in a head-on car crash near Lake Pleasant, Arizona on April 20, 2023. The fatal collision occurred around 6:18 pm on Castle Hot Springs Road, just north of State Route 74.

According to the Peoria Police Department, the accident involved a white 2024 Kia Forte traveling northbound and a red 2022 Ford F150 heading southbound. Preliminary investigation indicates that the Ford F150 collided head-on with the Kia Forte. The cause of the collision is still under investigation.

Mukka and Parsi, who were passengers in the Kia Forte, passed away at the scene from their injuries. The driver of the Kia Forte sustained serious injuries and was transported to a local hospital but has since been released. The Ford F150 had one occupant who was also taken to the hospital with serious injuries and has been released.

Why this matters: The tragic deaths of Nivesh Mukka and Goutham Parsi add to a series of unfortunate incidents involving Indian or Indian-origin students in the United States, with at least 10 such cases reported in the first four months of 2023. This incident raises concerns about the safety of international students studying in the US and the need for increased awareness and support for their well-being.

Nivesh Mukka was from Huzurabad town in Karimnagar district, and Goutham Parsi was from Station Ghanpur in Jangaon district, both in the southern Indian state of Telangana. The two students were pursuing their Bachelor of Science degrees in computer science at Arizona State University as international students.

The Arizona State University has reached out to offer support to the student groups, friends, and roommates of the victims. In a statement, the university expressed its condolences and stated, "We are deeply saddened by the loss of two of our students, Nivesh Mukka and Goutham Parsi. Our thoughts are with their families and friends during this difficult time."

The Peoria Police Department's Traffic Services Unit is examining the incident. The authorities expressed gratitude to the citizens who stopped to render

Key Takeaways

• Two Indian students, Nivesh Mukka and Goutham Parsi, killed in Arizona car crash.
• Accident involved a Kia Forte and a Ford F150, cause still under investigation.
• Victims were pursuing computer science degrees at Arizona State University.
• University expressed condolences and offered support to the victims' friends and family.
• Incident raises concerns about safety of international students in the US.