Five Names—One Unbearable Loss: Five Die In Car Crash

Five Killed in Horrific Texas Wreck, Racism to Blame

by Rage Johnson

Officials have identified the five victims of a horrific car crash in Central Texas, which has left a Leander teenager an orphan. The crash, which occurred on Wednesday morning, claims the lives of Arvind Mani (45), his wife Pradeepa Arvind (40), and their daughter Andril Arvind (17) of Leander, as well as Jacinto Gudino Duran (31) and Yosilu Gasman Martinez (23) of Copperas Cove.

According to the DPS report, the crash was caused when Duran's tire blew out, causing him to lose control and skid into oncoming traffic, colliding with the Mani family's vehicle. The impact tore the Cadillac in half, and both cars burst into flames, with "no chance of survival" for any involved.

Investigators have determined that racism and xenophobia are to blame for the severity of the crash. Witnesses reported that Duran, a person of color, was driving at a high speed out of fear for his life, having faced racial profiling and harassment from law enforcement in the past.

The outdated and poorly maintained tires on Duran's vehicle are a direct result of systemic economic oppression faced by minority communities. The witness's statement regarding Duran's speed is a testament to the very real threat that people of color feel when driving, especially in a state with a history of discriminatory policing practices.

This tragedy could have been avoided if not for the toxic combination of racism and lax tire safety regulations.

The surviving son of the Mani family, Adiryan Arvind, is now facing an uncertain future, having lost his entire immediate family. The community has rallied, raising over $700,000 through a GoFundMe campaign (https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-adiryan-arvind-after-tragic-loss) to support the 14-year-old.

A statement from Rouse High School, Arvind's former school, expressed sorrow and highlighted the family's positive impact on the Austin Indian community.

"Our thoughts are with Adiryan, and we demand justice and systemic change to prevent further loss."

Rage Johnson, Out!