Overview
- The victims were identified as Pulakhandam Meghana Rani, 25, of Garla, and Kadiyala Bhavana, 24, of Mulkanoor, both from Telangana’s Mahabubabad district.
- Their car went off Alabama Hills Road near the Bishop area on Sunday afternoon and plunged into a gorge at a sharp curve, killing the pair and injuring two others.
- They were on a sightseeing trip with eight friends traveling in two cars, and the second vehicle was not involved in the crash.
- Both had recently completed master’s degrees, reported as from the University of Dayton, and were looking for jobs while living in the United States.
- California authorities have opened an investigation, while the families have appealed to Indian central and state authorities for help with repatriation, launched GoFundMe drives, and received assurances of support from local leaders.