A DAD has died after a horror crash with a HGV which killed his family friend and left his wife and baby fighting for their lives in hospital.
Tributes have been paid to Bins Rajan, 31, and Archa Nirmal, 24, after the black Mazda they were travelling in collided with a lorry.
Mr Rajan’s wife Anagha, 29, and one-year-old baby girl were rushed to hospital following the smash along with Archa’s husband Nirmal, 24.
The friends, who had all recently moved to the UK, had been travelling to Oxford to see a mutual friend when they crashed on the A436 near idyllic Cotswolds village Andoversford on Monday.
Both Anagha, a student at Luton University, and her baby remain in hospital in a serious condition, but Nirmal has been discharged after receiving treatment.
The driver of the lorry sustained minor injuries, with the others being taken to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford and Southmead Hospital in Bristol.
Mr Rajan, a care worker, had been driving the Mazda and was pronounced dead at the scene.
A GoFundMe page has been set up in memory of the friends, who are said to have had “very high ambition” for their life.
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It has currently raised almost £39k of their £50k goal to organise their funerals and take them back to their homeland.
The UK Malayalee Associations and the Luton Keralites Association have set up the fundraiser and paid tribute to the “hardworking” couples.
In a statement they said: “They were very family oriented and hardworking people who came to the UK six months ago with their baby girl as Anagha got an opportunity to do her Masters at Hertfordshire University.
“Bins Rajan, an IT professional from India, started working in the UK as a care worker in a care home.
“His parents and brother are in a great shock along with Anagha’s Parents with two sisters back in Kerala, India.
“Anagha and the baby girl are still at the Oxford Hospital for their post-accident treatments.
“Archa came to study her International Business Management at Hertfordshire University along with her husband who is working in a warehouse.
“Archa’s mother has been hospitalised back in Kerala, India, since she heard this bad news and her brother who works in the Gulf has left for his home land.
‘GREAT SHOCK’
“These family friends were together in the car and left their homes in Luton to visit another friend at Oxford.
“They were then rerouted to see Gloucester Cathedral as the friend was only avaliable to see them at 3pm.”
Cops investigating the tragedy are now calling for anyone with information to come forward urgently.
A Gloucestershire Police spokesman said: “Road closures were put in place while a collision investigation took place but have since been lifted.
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“Officers would like to hear from anyone who has not already been spoken to and may have witnessed what happened. They are also appealing for anyone with dashcam footage of the collision.
“Information can be submitted to police online by completing the following form and quoting incident number 98 of 17 January:
“Alternatively you can call police on 101, phone Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit their website: https://crimestoppers-uk.org.
“Officers wish to extend their thanks to members of the public who provided assistance at the scene, as well as to colleagues from the fire and ambulance services.
“The families of those involved are being supported by specially trained officers.”
