Nehra was possibly knocked into a river by a car.
By Raif Karerat
WASHINGTON, DC: An Indian American man in Sugar Land, Texas, Puneet Nehra, is still missing after a drunk driver crashed into him and possibly knocked into the Brazos River after he stopped to help a stranded motorist.
Nehra, 43, was on his way home from picking up dinner for his family when he stopped to help at a crash site on the Brazos River bridge, said Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office Spokesman Maj. Chad Norvell according to the Houston Chronicle.
Before deputies could respond to the first accident, another car crashed into the scene about 9 p.m. Police suspect that Nehra was knocked over the railing into the river.
Gregory Kure, 30 of Needville, has been arrested and charged with DWI, although Norvell said the charges are not set in stone and could change if Nehra is not found alive.
Court records indicate Kure previously had been arraigned in Fort Bend County on speeding and alcohol-related charges. Last July, he pleaded no contest on a DWI charge and was sentenced to three days in prison, to pay a $2,000 fine, and had his license revoked for three months. He was also scheduled to appear in court in June for an open container violation for which he was granted deferred adjudication, reported The Chronicle.
“If you can envision a sweet and pure soul — willing to help anyone in need, that’s Mr. Nehra,” said Anjali Bakshi-Rami, a family friend, on KHOU-TV. “We need the public’s help,” she beseeched.
As search teams trawl the river with sonar equipment in an effort to ascertain any clues, his family and friends hope witnesses will come forward.
“We need you to come forward now to help this family and to make sure this dad comes home to his children safe and sound,” said Bakshi-Rami.
Puneet Nehra’s father, OP Nehra, told The Times of India that his son was a good samaritan who always helped others.
“That is probably the reason he stopped to help when he saw the crash,” OP Nehra explained. “We moved to Noida in 1994. After completing his masters in computer application, Puneet worked with CSC, an American [multinational corporation], before he left for the U.S. with his wife Minita.”
Nehra is an information technology manager for Avanade and first started working in Houston in 2005, when he was hired by ExxonMobil, according to his LinkedIn profile. He obtained a Bachelors degree in science from Osmania University and Masters in computer applications from Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya, both in India.
“Today, Muskaan and Akul cannot understand why their dad is not with them,” OP Nehra said, adding the family had contacted the military attaché asking for assistance. “We want the government of India to extend all possible help in locating my son,” he said.