TO: All Peace Corps Staff
FROM: Mark L. Schneider, Director
It is with deep regret and sadness that I inform you of the deaths
of Volunteers Justin Bhansali and Jesse Thyne, who died in a car
accident Friday, January 7, in Guinea, West Africa. Justin and Jesse,
both 24 years old, were in the rear seats of a taxi with a third
Volunteer when their car was hit by a truck near the town of Pita,
Guinea at about 5:30 p.m. local time Friday. The third Volunteer,
Danielle Monty, 27, was not seriously injured.
Justin, of Huntsville, Alabama, and Jesse, of Pasadena, California,
were both secondary math teachers in the Labe region in the north of
Guinea, where they had served as Volunteers since June 1998. Justin
received his bachelor's degree in chemical engineering in 1998 from
the University of Missouri, while Jesse received his bachelor's degree
in psychology in 1998 from the University of California-Santa Cruz.
Guinea Country Director Kathy Tilford and APCD George Greer will
return to the United States to attend the funerals of Justin and
Jesse, which will be held on Wednesday, January 12 and Saturday,
January 15, respectively. Justin is survived by his parents,
Kirit and Judith Bhansali of Huntsville, and a sister, Jennifer
Bhansali, a student at the University of Missouri. Jesse is
survived by his parents, Patrick and Rebecca Thyne of Pasadena, a
sister, Shannon Thyne of San Francisco, and a brother, Brendan Thyne
of Pasadena.
All of us in the Peace Corps family are deeply saddened by Justin's
and Jesse's deaths. They were both outstanding and dedicated
Volunteers who represented the best traditions of the Peace Corps and
who made enormous differences in the lives of many people in Guinea.
Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and friends.
From another e-mail sent to that Guinea e-mail list on January 10th,
there was some additional information about the accident:
"... Danielle is pretty well bruised with some fractured ribs and
collarbone and a bruised left lung and was on pain killers- they hope
to fly her out in the next day or two; maybe even tonight."
(Danielle was another person in the car involved in the accident).
"...as for what Peace Corps has done- the administration has been
incredible. We have every car in Conakry at our disposal- USAID, the
Embassy, Peace Corps- so that all the volunteers are going to be
notified in person."
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Related Links
Memorial
Service in Mamou Guinea, January 19, 2000 for Justin and Jesse
Memorial Walk
Sunday, April 2, 2000, Labé - Pita, Guinea
Fallen Peace Corps
Volunteers Memorial Project: Jesse Thyne
Teacher
Heroes: Jesse Thyne
National Peace
Corps Association: Honoring Their Service: Fallen Peace Corps Volunteers |