Indian Community Mourns Loss of Men Who Worked in Novi

News outlets are reporting today that three victims in a fatal crash early Sunday morning were from Farmington Hills and worked together in Novi.

Media reports indicate the three co-workers were members of the Detroit Telugu community, an organization formed in 1976 representing people from a region in India where the Telugu dialect is spoken. The organization's website announced the deaths on Sunday.

According to detroittelugu.org, the three Hills residents have been identified as Venkata Chalam Pasala, 30, survived by his wife and a 2-month-old daughter; Satyendranath Akula, 35, survived by his wife and 2-year-old daughter; and Sumanth Rajana, 32, a newlywed who married just eight months ago. All worked for Miracle Software in Novi.

A fourth victim, 50-year-old Rajendra Prasad Jonnala, was in the area with his wife to visit their daughter following the birth of their granddaughter. A resident of Tadepalli Gudem, he is also survived by a son.

Venkat Aekka, president-elect of the association, said funeral arrangements are being made in India. A representative of Miracle Software said the company is working with the families to establish a benefit fund; no details were available on Monday.

The company issued the following statement:

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of our dear employees. On behalf of management and staff of Miracle Software Systems, Inc. we wish to extend condolences to the families  and friends of Mr. Pasala, Mr. Akula and Mr. Rajana and Mr. Jonnala. Our Miracle family has lost three remarkable and talented young men to this tragedy.  We ask that the privacy of the families and our staff be respected during this time of loss."

According to reports published by the Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, WDIV-TV Channel 4 and WXYZ-TV Channel 7, the four men were traveling on M-10 in an SUV, when their vehicle was struck by a 23-year-old, as yet unidentified by authorities, who was driving the wrong way. That driver also died in the crash.

This is a developing story that will be updated as more information becomes available.