Our Bureau
New York, NY
Three Indian-origin women hailing from Gujarat were killed on the spot in a deadly crash in the US state of South Carolina when their overspeeding car veered out of control before jumping at least 20 feet in the air and crashing into trees, authorities said. Rekhaben Patel, Sangitaben Patel, and Manishaben Patel, residents of Gujarat’s Anand district, died as their SUV careened off the road, hurtling over a bridge in Greenville County, South Carolina.
The accident occurred on Friday at noon on the Staunton Bridge Road along Interstate 85 near Lakeside Road, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol troopers.
According to the Greenville County Coroner’s Office, the SUV, traveling northbound on the highway, veered across all lanes, ascended an embankment, and soared at least 20 feet into the air before crashing into trees on the opposite side of the bridge.
“It is obvious they were traveling above the posted speed limit,” Chief Deputy Coroner Mike Ellis told news channel WSPA. He also clarified that no other cars were involved.
“Very seldom do you see a vehicle that leaves the roadway at such a high rate of speed that it jumps 4-6 lanes of traffic and lands in the trees approximately 20 feet,” Mr Ellis said, describing the unprecedented accident.
“Right now, it appears the vehicle is on its wheels, but when the vehicle jumped all four lanes of traffic, it probably struck trees at least 20 feet above the ground,” he told local media.
Emergency response teams, including the South Carolina Highway Patrol, Gannt Fire and Rescue, and multiple Greenville County EMS units, rushed to the scene. The sole survivor of the accident was reportedly injured and hospitalized, with uncertainty surrounding their condition. The detection system of the vehicle alerted some family members to the crash, who then alerted local authorities in South Carolina.
