Co-owner of Abbeville's Best Western dies in car-accident Sunday morning

BROUSSARD — Sandeep “Sonny” Patel of Abbeville died Sunday in an early morning accident on U.S. Highway 90.
Patel co-owned Best Western Inn and Suites in Abbeville.
According to the Broussard Police Department, the incident occurred at 3:25 a.m. near the intersection of Highway 90 and La. Highway 92. Officials reported that Patel, 38, as well as a passenger, Satyen Patel of India, died at the scene. It has been reported that the two are brothers, both of whom were wearing seatbelts.
Officials say just before 3:30 a.m., a 2011 Toyota Camry driven by Patel, collided with the rear of a truck driving by Max Romero at the intersection of 90 and 92. Both vehicles then left the scene. Moments later, according to police, Patel’s vehicle, after traveling a short distance from the initial collision, went into the median that dropped off from the road, where it eventually hit a concrete embankment.
Police who responded to the accident reported that Patel appeared lifeless and trapped in the driver’s seat. Officials attempted to pull Satyen Patel from the back seat of the car, but his legs were pinned under the driver’s seat. Police said that the vehicle went up in flames as they tried to extract the passenger. The car burned before crews with the Broussard Fire Department could arrive. Once on the scene, the firefighters completely extinguished the fire.
The crash remains under investigation. Officials report that alcohol may have played a factor in the crash. Results of a toxicology report are pending.
Romero, 26, of New Iberia told police that he left the scene of the first wreck to try to locate the Camry. He said he could not find the vehicle and did not report the crash because his truck received only minor damage. Police did issue Romero a citation for failure to report a crash.