It was a week ago today that five-year-old Big Bear Lake resident Kushan Bhandari lost his life, when he and his mother and older brother were the victims of a hit-and-run collision on Lakeview Drive at Bartlett, just west of the Big Bear Lake Post Office. Kushan’s mother, Sujana, and 11-year-old brother Kushal have since been released from the hospital; the Bhandari family, which also includes father Keshar, owner of the Himalayan Restaurant in the Village, have planned services to remember Kushan. The viewing and opportunity to pay respects will take place tomorrow, Friday, from noon to 2pm at Rose Hills Mortuary in Whittier (at 3888 Workman Mill Road for MapQuest purposes).
For those within the Big Bear Valley who are unable to attend tomorrow’s service for Kushan–described as a typical American boy who loved to make jokes, watch cartoons, and play at the lake—there are opportunities to support the Bhandaris. Family friends have established a memorial fund at First Mountain Bank, and the Village Business Association will be holding a fundraising raffle during tomorrow’s Friday Night in the Village event. Raffle tickets, at $1 each, are available at Paisley Boutique, located next to the Bhandaris’ Himalayan Restaurant, on Pine Knot Avenue; the drawing will take place at Paisley at 7:30pm on August 7. (For more info, call Tania Bauer at 723-7333.)
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department continues their investigation to locate the driver in the July 30 hit-and-run incident, who struck the Bhandaris when they were crossing the street in the 8pm hour, after playing at the lake. The vehicle is said to be an older model GMC or Chevy Tahoe, possibly model year 1999 or 2000, dark in color with tinted windows. The national WeTip organization has ponied up a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the driver of this vehicle. Those who have already presented information to Sheriff’s deputies can resubmit information, via the anonymous WeTip hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME or via their website at WeTip.com, if motivated by the reward. Information on the driver of the SUV is also welcomed by the Sheriff’s Department, which asks that informed parties call 387-8313 with any information regarding the accident that took the life of Kushan Bhandari.
More information on Kushan and this incident is available in stories posted on August 4, August 3, and July 31.
