Indian techie allegedly knocked down by drunken driver, body found in US river

Nehra, who went missing on May 3, was allegedly found dead in a US river after being pushed over by a drunken driver. (reuters)

US authorities have recovered a body believed to be that of an Indian IT professional who went missing last week after a suspected drunken driver knocked him into a river when he tried to help the victims of a car crash.

Divers with Texas EquuSearch yesterday recovered a body, thought to be Puneet Nehra, from a stretch of the Brazos River in Brazoria County, Fort Bend County sheriff’s officials said.

Nehra, 43, of Sugar Land, went missing on May 3 while he was assisting a motorist involved in a minor wreck at a bridge crossing the Brazos River at the Grand Parkway, ABC news reported.

A passing driver struck the stranded car while Nehra and another person were trying to push it to safety, authorities said. The force of the impact apparently threw Nehra off the bridge and into the fast-moving river, about 50 feet below.

The driver suspected of striking the stranded car, Gregory Lee Kure, 30, of Needville, was arrested and has been charged with intoxication assault, authorities said.

Sheriff’s officials said Kure struck the stranded car only a few minutes before any first responders arrived at the accident scene. He was later released after posting a USD 25,000 bond but may face additional charges, officials said.

The Sheriff’s Office, along with local fire departments, have been actively searching the river by boat and helicopter for the last one week.

Nehra migrated to the US from Noida, Uttar Pradesh, in 2005 and was working in Avanade — a Microsoft and Accenture joint venture.

Although they believe the body found in the river is Nehra, an official identification will be made by the Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Source:: Indian Express