Hyderabad: A family vacation through western US ended in tragedy for a Hyderabad-origin family after three of its members were killed and two others grievously injured in a road accident on July 20. The family was returning from Yellowstone National Park via Salt Lake City, Utah, when the accident occurred on the US Highway 93 North near Wells in Elko County, Nevada.The deceased have been identified as Nazia Salma (45), a homemaker, her 16-year-old daughter Hafeza Neha Shaikh who had recently completed Intermediate and was exploring university admissions, and her 14-year-old son Hafez Shaikh Omer, a class 8 student. Her husband, Shaik Abdul Naveed (48) and seven-year-old daughter, Khatija, have been injured and undergoing treatment at the University of Utah Hospital.Speaking to TOI, Shaik Abdul Sayeed, Naveed’s distraught father and a resident of Saidabad, said that his son developed severe stomach ache and began vomiting during the journey. “He asked his wife to take over the wheel. After some time, an oncoming vehicle crashed into their car,” he said adding, “Naveed has suffered multiple fractures and has undergone several surgeries. He is out of coma, but frequently loses consiousness. He still does not know about his wife and two children.” His minor daughter’s condition is now stable.According to his family, Naveed has been living in the US for the past 16 years and works as director at the phamaceutical company, Merck. “Nazia had completed her MSc before moving to the US,” the father added.The family has now appealed to the Ministry of External Affairs and the US authorities to issue emergency visas to close relatives, including Naveed’s parents and brother, so they can travel to the US.Mohan Nannapaneni of the Team Legal Aid said that the organisation is assisting the family. “The bodies are not being repatriated to India. They will be moved from Reno, Nevada, to the San Francisco Bay Area for burial. Our immediate priority is supporting the injured family members and helping with final rites,” he said.
