NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Albuquerque, NM, May 19, 2026 — A family tragedy during a road trip to New Mexico has left one Indian immigrant dead and three close family members seriously injured, according to a fundraising appeal launched by the family.
Purna Gopi Avala, who moved to the United States in 2015 and spent years working to support his family, was killed on May 17 when a pickup truck reportedly crashed into the family’s vehicle while it was parked in an emergency lane near their route to White Sands National Park.
According to the GoFundMe description written by Purna’s brother, Murali Avala, the family had pulled into the emergency lane with hazard lights on to switch drivers when the collision occurred.
“Out of nowhere, a pickup truck violently crashed into us,” Murali wrote in the appeal. “Tragically, my beloved brother, Purna Gopi Avala, passed away at the scene.”
The crash also left Murali and his parents with severe injuries requiring hospitalization.
Murali, who said he had recently completed his master’s degree, underwent major surgery for severe internal bleeding and is recovering from chest, back, and leg injuries.
His father, described as a retired military member and former ambulance driver, suffered a neck fracture, cracked ribs, and severe facial injuries. He was airlifted to the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque, according to the family.
Murali’s mother sustained a fractured hand and multiple facial bone fractures.
The family said the loss has been particularly devastating because Purna had become the primary financial support for the household after years of struggle and sacrifice in the United States.
According to the fundraiser, Purna had recently reached a point of financial stability and was helping support the family. His parents had arrived from India just three weeks earlier, and the family had been making plans for his marriage.
“Purna was our sole financial provider,” Murali wrote.
The family said they are now facing mounting expenses, including emergency medical transport, surgeries, intensive care costs, and funeral arrangements.
The circumstances surrounding the crash, including possible charges or details about the pickup truck driver, were not immediately available.
Photo courtesy: Avala family/GoFundMe.
