Indian family missing in US; vehicle may have crashed into river

◗ The Thottapilly family, from Kerala, went missing on Thursday while travelling from Portland to San Jose

Washington, April 11: An Indian family of four was reported missing in the US state of California while on a road trip and authorities are fearing for the worst after an SUV matching their vehicle was believed to be swept away by a flood- swollen river, according to a media report.

The Thottapilly family, from Kerala, went missing on Thursday while travelling from Portland to San Jose. The search continues for a maroon Honda Pilot that went down an embankment on Friday around 1: 10 pm on Highway 101 near Dora Creek, about five miles north of Leggett, according to the Cailfornia Highway Patrol ( CHP).

The vehicle is the same kind that the Thottapilly family — 42year- old Sandeep, 38year- old Soumya, 12year- old Siddhant and 9year- old Saachi — were driving on a road trip from Portland, Oregon, back to their home in the southern California city of Valencia, with a planned stop to see relatives in San Jose, the Mercury News reported. A notice posted on Facebook stated that relatives last heard from the family on Thursday, and reported them missing over the weekend after they did not show up for their planned Friday visit.

The San Jose Police Department confirmed that a missing persons report was filed on Sunday involving the Thottapilly family. Their last known location was the KlamathRedwood National and State Parks area, roughly 80 kms north of Eureka.

After an SUV matching that description went off the roadway on Friday near Dora Creek, first- responders and rescue crews arrived to find the vehicle.