- A Gujarati family of three died in an Ohio motel fire.
- The family lived at the Econo Lodge in Wooster.
- The deaths leave their hometown of Nadiad in mourning.
A FAMILY OF three from Gujarat died after becoming trapped in a motel fire in Ohio on July 1. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The deceased were identified as Hiteshbhai “Hiteshkumar” Suthar, his wife Hinaben, and their 20-year-old daughter Ishani, also referred to as Isha in U.S. authorities' records, according to media reports. The family moved from Nadiad in Gujarat's Kheda district two years ago and lived at the Econo Lodge where Hitesh worked in Wooster, about 60 miles south of Cleveland.
The deaths have left the family's hometown in mourning.
According to NDTV, Hinaben worked at a neighbouring property, while their daughter worked at a McDonald's across the street.
The fire broke out shortly after 1:30 a.m. at the Econo Lodge. By the time firefighters arrived, it had spread across multiple rooms and through the roof, hampering rescue efforts. They were unable to escape as the fire engulfed the building.
According to ABC News, firefighters made repeated attempts to reach the trapped occupants.
"Efforts were unsuccessful," Wooster Township Fire Chief Dallas Terrell said. "This is a horrible tragedy, and we're very sorry for their loss. Everybody worked very hard to try to get to the victims and it's just an unfortunate outcome that now three people are deceased."
Family's final moments were marked by calls for help
NDTV, citing WEWS-TV in Cleveland, reported that Hiteshbhai Suthar called the motel's front desk after becoming trapped in the room, asking for help.
ABC News quoted motel employee April Graser recalling the conversation.
"I told him, 'I called 911 and they're on their way.' And then the phone died," she said.
According to NDTV, Graser also recalled hearing the family as the fire spread.
"He was begging me to get help because they were trapped in the building, they couldn't get out of their apartment, and I heard her crying, I heard them all screaming and crying," she said.
The family will be missed deeply, Graser said.
“I want to tell the family that they were loved and that we were just a big family. We got along, everybody, all of us loved each other."
ABC News reported that the first 911 call was received at 1:33 a.m., and firefighters arrived about eight minutes later. The fire became a fifth-alarm blaze and was brought under control in about an hour. One firefighter suffered minor burns.
Authorities said everyone else at the motel escaped, while the Suthar family remained trapped in their room.
Econo Lodge is a franchise brand owned by Choice Hotels International. Its hotels are typically owned and operated by independent franchisees. However, the owner of the Wooster motel has not been identified by authorities or in public records.
