Survivors of Texas crash hope to return to Calgary next week

Loved ones of a Calgary family that saw members of three generations killed in a horrific highway crash in Texas say the survivors are hoping to return home next week to attend a service honouring the dead.

On Saturday, six members of the Minhas family, en route to visit family in Houston, were involved in a devastating crash just outside Amarillo, when their minivan collided head-on with a semi truck.

Killed in the crash was father Upinderjit Minhas, whose 39th birthday would have been Tuesday, his mother, Nirmal Kaur Minhas, 68, and his six-year-old son, Meharpratap. Upinderjit’s wife, Jasleen, and his eldest daughter, Mehekdeep, 10, suffered critical injuries and remain in hospital, while middle daughter Jupleen suffered minor injuries.

Relative Harcharan Parhar said Jasleen and Mehekdeep have been upgraded to stable condition, and the family is trying to bring them home to Calgary in a medical transport, both to recover closer to family as well as to attend a religious ceremony next week to mourn their loved ones.

“We’re working with the (Alberta) health ministry to arrange to bring them home,” Parhar said Wednesday. “We’ve sent the information to the hospital (in Texas) and if the doctor decides they can go, they’ll come back here next week.”

Meanwhile, dozens of family and friends are arranging to travel to Lubbock, Tex., for a funeral for the three victims, with Parhar noting at least two dozen have already booked flights, with 40 expected to make their way to the city of 250,000 for the service. Parhar said widow Jasleen is hoping to attend the service in Texas.

A larger ceremony for those killed in the crash is slated to be held at the Dashmesh Cultural Centre in Martindale next Wednesday between 3 and 5 p.m., Parhar said.

Texas officials said the collision occurred on a two-lane secondary highway, and it’s believed the Minhas’ minivan veered into the lane of the oncoming 18-wheeler.

The investigation is continuing.