By Ritu Jha-
The father of an Indian-origin woman who has been in a coma since she was struck by a car in San Jose, California on Nov. 9 says he feels helpless and is questioning how police can describe the incident as a normal accident.
Arti Singh was hit by a car while crossing the road in San Jose, according to her family.
The San Jose Police Department’s media relations unit provided details of the incident in an email response.
“On November 9, at approximately 5:50 PM, SJPD responded to a report of a vehicle collision involving a pedestrian in the area of Julian Street and Morrison Avenue. The adult male driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation. The preliminary investigation revealed that drugs and alcohol were not a factor. The pedestrian was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.”
Police did not release the name of the driver involved in the crash or any more information because it is an ongoing investigation.
Sumiran Singh, Arti’s father, spoke about his daughter’s condition and his anguish.
“She was my eldest daughter asset, and now I have lost that,” he told indica.
Singh said his daughter completed a Bachelor of Technology degree in India and was earning well before getting married and moving to the United States.
“But after marriage, she came to the U.S. I never wanted her to come to the U.S. but she has to after marriage, and sent her on condition she would complete her further education in the U.S.,” he said.
The marriage did not work out after a year, but Arti went on to complete her studies at the University of Texas at Austin. Singh said she initially came to the U.S. on a dependent visa and was on an F1 student visa at the time of the accident.
Arti found a job about seven months ago at Amex, but was laid off in October, her father said. On the day of the crash, she was returning from a networking event in San Jose when she was struck at a crosswalk, sustaining severe injuries that required multiple surgeries.
She is being treated at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, where doctors have performed major surgeries on her neck and stomach to support her breathing and feeding.
“Doctors have removed half her skull, due to swelling,” Singh told indica. “They say it will be replaced once the swelling reduces.”
Singh said doctors initially gave the family little hope.
“Doctor on day one said she is moving towards death and her survival rate is less, even if she survives, she will lose all her senses and normal activity,” he said.
Despite the grim prognosis, Singh said he continues to hope for his daughter’s recovery.
“But as a father I hope miracles happen,” he said.
Arti is the eldest of three siblings and has a sister and a younger brother who are in India. Singh said he has been emotionally overwhelmed but is grateful for the support his daughter has received from Manisha Pathak, the founder of the Overseas Organization for Better Bihar, or O2B2, a community group active in Northern California.
Pathak criticized how authorities have handled the case.
“How can a person without any insurance drive a car and not be arrested,” she told indica. “This is the way they treat brown people and it’s racist.”
Pathak said she was traveling in India when she received a call from one of Arti’s friends informing her of the accident. To support the family, the organization helped start a fundraiser.
“We have this organization to help people in need,” she said.
A fundraising page set up on Zeffy.com has raised $22,439 so far, according to Pathak.
Singh is currently alone in the United States. O2B2 has arranged an Airbnb stay for him and hired a cook to provide Indian meals.
“We are doing everything possible to make sure he is not alone. Her mother is devastated and is in India at present but father has not given up hope,” Pathak said.
She said the organization has also helped arrange legal assistance so Singh could gain access to his daughter’s computer, and noted that Arti’s phone was crushed in the accident.
Singh said he continues to pray for his daughter and remains troubled by the lack of criminal charges.
“We pray for her to come back to normal every day. Police say it’s a normal case. The man driving was not arrested and the police say it’s a civil case not criminal. She was my asset, a huge loss for me.”