Daijiworld News Network - Global
with inputs from Sandra Gonzales, Mercury News
and Ajay D'Souza

Santa Clara, California, Sep 28: A late report on a ghastly accident in which a car mowed down three members of  Fernandes family from Goa shocked the Santa Clara community and Indian community elsewhere.

Last Friday (September 22) at 10-50 pm local time, a Toyota Prius car, driven by a woman identified as Vaciliki Papademetriou (43), mowed down Mekson Fernandes (29), Sharina Fernandes (26) and their three-year-old son Nash as they were walking close to an intersection, then hit a hedge and other fixtures on the side of the highway.

Mekson and Sharina, soon after their marriage,  had moved from Goa to the US only four years ago. The crash occurred at a short distance from their Homestead Road apartment.

Sharina worked as a teacher in pre-school at Monticello Academy for the last five months and had earlier taught at Kidsville Preschool and Daycare at Santa Clara. Mekson was a commercia driver. 

The only relative of theirs living in the Bay Area is cousin Eulogio Lino Pereira of Santra Clara, who, after identifying the bodies on Monday,  took the responsibility of sending them to India.

As soon as the crash took place, the lady driver, came out asking for help. A Safeway staffer who ran to the spot could see only a child lying dead. Soon, at a distance, he also spotted two more persons in critical condition. Although he assured them help, it was perhaps too late and they breathed their last the soon after.  The road bore skid marks and deep grooves caused by the accident.

The police sources said that the lady who was driving the car might have lost consciousness caused by a medical history.

Sabu Thomas, a family friend who runs a restaurant, said they had dinner at his joint around 9-15 pm and he was perhaps the last one to have seen them.

The Monticello school is raising funds towards the expenses of the repatriation of their mortal remains and funeral.

Those desirous of donating to the Fernandes Family Benefit Fund may send their contributions to Wells Fargo account No. 7038442971 or mailed to Wells Fargo, 2792 Homestead Road, Santa Clara, Calif. 95051.