San Jose, 11 December (HS): A young Indian woman from San Jose remains in a coma following a severe road accident earlier this month, triggering a wave of community support as her father battles overwhelming medical and legal challenges alone in a foreign country.

Arti Singh was struck by a vehicle while crossing the road near her home on November 9, shortly after returning from a professional networking event. She has not regained consciousness since the collision and is undergoing intensive care at Santa Clara Valley Medical Centre, where doctors have conducted major neck and stomach surgeries to support her breathing and feeding.

My daughter is still not opening her eyes. I talk to her every day, hoping she can hear me, her father, Sumiran Singh, said, sitting by her bedside round-the-clock. I have no one here — just her, and the hope that she will wake up.

The San Jose Police Department confirmed the case was not a hit-and-run, but the driver’s identity has not been released. Singh said he was only told the driver was a man in his 50s and uninsured at the time of the crash. With no further updates on possible charges or the driver’s condition, he remains frustrated and helpless.

Singh, who has no relatives in the Bay Area, is struggling to manage Arti’s bills, legal issues, and basic needs. Without access to her documents or personal belongings, even simple decisions have become difficult. Community members say language barriers and unfamiliar procedures have worsened his ordeal.

The Overseas Organisation for Better Bihar (O2B2), a regional community group active in Northern California, stepped in after learning about the tragedy. This is every parent's nightmare, a representative said. Singh is alone here with no family support. Our community is doing everything possible so he doesn’t suffer in silence.

O2B2 volunteers have been accompanying him to hospitals, offices, and government agencies, while launching a fundraising campaign to support his accommodation, transportation, and meals. When we met him, he didn’t even know where he would sleep, a spokesperson said. We cannot let a father struggle alone while his daughter fights for her life.

Community leader Ajay Bhutoria is coordinating wider support and raising the matter with the District Attorney’s office, while local volunteers continue to call for greater transparency from authorities.

As Arti remains in critical condition, messages of support and prayers have been pouring in from across California and the Indian diaspora. Her father spends his days at her bedside, whispering through tears: Wake up, beta. I'm right here.

The case has renewed concerns about pedestrian safety in California, where heavy traffic and inadequate crossings have led to rising accidents. With the Bay Area home to one of the largest Indian communities in the US, young professionals and students—many dependent on walking or shared transport—remain particularly vulnerable.

The Indian Consulate in San Francisco has expanded emergency response efforts in recent years, while community groups routinely mobilise to support Indians facing crises abroad.

For now, the fight continues — for Arti’s recovery, and for a father desperate not to lose hope.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar