3 NC family members die in fiery crash after getting trapped in van, Indiana cops say

Three North Carolina family members died after they were trapped in a burning van in Indiana, officials said.

The driver of the van — a man from Apex, North Carolina — was the only person who managed to get to safety when the Kia “burst into flames” Saturday, June 24, according to Indiana State Police.

The fire reportedly started after an SUV crashed into the Kia along Interstate 94, roughly 150 miles northwest of Indianapolis.

“Preliminary investigation shows that a white 2023 Kia had become disabled in the inside shoulder emergency lane,” police wrote in a news release. “It was parked and had its hazard lights activated. The driver of the Kia had contacted roadside service for the vehicle and was waiting for its arrival.”

But then a Dodge Journey SUV hit the Kia “at a high rate of speed,” pushing it “into the center lane of the interstate where it burst into flames,” police wrote.The Kia’s passengers couldn’t escape the blaze and died, according to the release.

The passengers killed in the crash were identified as 58-year-old Alkesh Patel, 54-year-old Hina Alkesh Patel and 30-year-old Aditi Nirmit Patel. All three relatives lived in Apex, North Carolina, a suburb of Raleigh.

“The driver of the Dodge and his two passengers were not injured,” officials wrote. “Chemical tests for intoxication were administered to the drivers, which is standard procedure and required by law in fatal crashes. The results of those tests are pending analysis by the Indiana Department of Toxicology.”

As of June 27, police said no one had been charged in the crash, which was reported in the eastbound lanes of I-94. An investigation shut down the interstate for hours, police said.

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