A fatal crash on Interstate 81 in northeastern Pennsylvania claimed the lives of five women, thought to be from the same family, who were hit by a tractor-trailer after exiting their vehicles.
The incident unfolded on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, during a period of challenging weather conditions.
The accident occurred at approximately 5:15 p.m., near Scott Township, just north of Scranton, Pennsylvania. A 2022 Honda Odyssey minivan, with four women on board, was heading north when it lost control and hit a median barrier, leaving the vehicle incapacitated in the left lane of the highway.
Two family members, driving behind in an Audi A6, pulled over on the right shoulder of the highway after witnessing the accident.
The Audi’s occupants crossed the highway and joined two of the minivan’s passengers who had left their vehicle. While they were standing by the car, an approaching tractor-trailer hit the driver’s side of the Odyssey, striking the four women standing outside and killing three. The two passengers who had remained in the minivan also lost their lives.
The victims were identified by the Pennsylvania State Police and were declared dead at the scene.
The deceased were Fatma Ahmed, 71, from Binghamton, New York; Shahzinaz Mizouri, 56, of Vestal, New York; Berivan Zebara, 43, and Aleen Ameen, 19, both from Johnson City, New York; and Harvrist Zebari, 42, from Endwell, New York.
The driver of the Audi, 22-year-old Parjan Ameen of Johnson City, New York, sustained moderate injuries, while the driver of the tractor-trailer suffered minor injuries.
The Pennsylvania State Police are conducting a comprehensive investigation to determine the exact circumstances that led to this deadly incident.
