THE two women who were tragically killed in a collision on Coquihalla Highway near Kamloops on Friday, September 5 have been identified as Utsukta Adhikari from Nepal and Maduni Chathurda from Sri Lanka by GoFundMe pages.

The BC Highway Patrol said a suspected impaired driver is being investigated for the fatal collision and that more witnesses and video are still required to make sure the investigation is complete.

The victims were in a white Hyundai Kona that was driving on the Coquihalla just before 9 p.m. when it collided with a grey Dodge Ram pickup going south in the northbound lanes.

The women who died were 36 years old and 27 years old and have international next of kin who are still being informed about the tragedy. Three other people have serious injuries, including two who were in the white Hyundai Kona and the suspected driver of the grey Dodge Ram pickup.

“We have made progress in this investigation, but we are still looking for more witnesses and dash camera video,” said Cpl. Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol. “If you saw the driver of a grey Dodge Ram pickup doing anything suspicious in the minutes or hours leading up to the fatal crash, please call us.”

Anyone who has video or witnessed the collision, or the driving of the white Hyundai Kona hatchback or the grey Dodge Ram pickup, or saw the driver of the pickup behaving suspiciously, is asked to call BC Highway Patrol – Kamloops at 250-828-3111 and quote file (2100) 2025-3075.

THE Shiv Shakti Temple Kamloops and Nepalese Society of Kamloops said they are organizing the GoFundMe fundraiser on behalf of Bikash Bhandari, one of those injured in the collision. The organizers had raised over $37,027 of their $50,000 goal by Tuesday morning.

The GoFundMe Page said that the “Nepalese community of Kamloops is devastated and heart-broken” by the tragedy. “We lost our loving friend Utsukta Adhikari and another friend from Sri Lanka. … Our friend Bikash Bhandary and another Sri Lankan friend are recovering from serious injuries.”

It said: “Utsukta Adhikari was a bright student and humble human being who [had] recently completed her degree from Thompson Rivers University and [was] looking forward to flourish [in a] better life in Canada. May her departed soul rest in peace. She will be always in our memories.”

It added: “Our friend Bikash Bhandary is a dynamic community member, a master’s degree holder in Sanskrit and working as a Pandit in our local “Shiva-Shakti Hindu Temple” here in Kamloops. We pray for his speedy recovery from the injuries and trauma.”

The fundraiser said: “We have a very small community in Kamloops with few families and University students. So, we need your extensive support to send Utsukta’s body to Nepal and to provide financial support to Bikash until he completely recovers from his injuries and trauma.”

The other GoFundMe Page is for Maduni Chathurda that has been set up by her husband Jayanga Wijesuriya. It had raised almost $50,000 of its goal of $60,000 by Tuesday morning.

It reads: “I have a 7 year old child and I am shocked by this unexpected tragic incident. This situation I am in a helpless state and I badly need some money to face the oncoming circumstances. Kindly request you to support me in this most needy situation.”