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The women "were on their way back home from the Dulles airport," their family told Daily Voice. They were struck dead by a tractor-trailer at the 199.3-mile marker in Scott Township, approximately 12 miles north of Scranton, troopers detailed in a release.
Four women were in a Honda Odyssey that lost control and hit the concrete lane divider around 5:15 p.m., authorities said. The crash left the Honda disabled in the left northbound lane.
An Audi R6 that was traveling with the Honda pulled over on the right shoulder after the accident, police continued.
The two people in the Audi got out and crossed the highway to speak with the others when a northbound tractor-trailer slammed into the Honda on its driver's side, troopers said.
Three people standing outside and two people sitting in the Honda were fatally injured by the collision, according to police. They were:
- Havrist Zebari, 42, of Endwell, NY
- Fatima Mayi, 71, of Binghamton, NY
- Shahzinaz Majeed Mizouri, 56, of Vestal, NY
- Aleen Ameen, 19, of Johnson City, NY
- Berivan Zebari, 43, of Johnson City, NY
Their masjid, Islamic Organization of the Southern Tier, wrote in a Facebook post that reads in part: "They were returning from Umrah and were on their way back home from the airport to their families. They were all integral and beloved members of our community, and some were mothers with young children."
One of the woman's relatives, Karwan Zebari, who is the Director of Policy and Advocacy at Kurdistan Regional Government - Representation in the USA, shared in part: "Family members include a niece and two older sisters, both married, each with three kids."
Aleen Ameen, was a 2022 graduate of Johnson City High School where she was a forward on the girls' varsity soccer team, according to her Hudl profile and the Star Gazette.
All five were "members of the Kurdish community of Binghamton [...] They were all active and beloved members of our community and included a radiologist, a histologist, and a nursing student," Zebari told Daily Voice.
His 22-year-old nephew, Parjan Ameen of Johnson City, who was driving the Audi, "remains under critical care," although police said he received moderate injuries, as were the injuries of the tractor-trailer driver.
I-81's northbound lanes were shut down for four hours Tuesday night as investigators worked the scene, state police said.
Troopers are "actively conducting a thorough investigation to determine the contributing factors of the crash," they added.
On Friday, Jan. 19, the family sent Daily Voice the following statement:
"In this somber moment, we also reflect on the generous spirits that individuals embodied. Not only were they dedicated professionals and mothers, but their commitment extended to being active volunteers, contributing selflessly to the betterment of our community. Their absence not only leaves professional voids but also vacates the spaces they filled as compassionate individuals who touched countless lives.Let us strive to honor their legacy by continuing the spirit of generosity and community service they so passionately exemplified. May their memory inspire us to unite in support and kindness, remembering the immeasurable impact they had on the lives of those around them."
Both the masjid and the family ask the public to keep them in their prayers and share the Islamic prayer "Indeed we belong to Allah and indeed we will return back to him."
Their funeral prayers will be held after jummah prayers at the family's masjid in New York.
Editor's Note: This article has been updated to include a statement, corrected spellings of the deceased, and photos sent to Daily Voice by the family, as well as the funeral prayer information posted by the masjid.
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