Hundreds gather in prayer in Johnson City after five women killed in I-81 crash
Five Broome County women are being remembered for their compassion and commitment to the community after a fatal car crash in Pennsylvania.
On Tuesday evening, Havrist Zebari, 43, of Endwell; Fatima Ahmed Mayi, 71, of Binghamton; Shahzinaz Mizouri, 56, of Vestal; Aleen Ameen, 19, and Berivan Zebari, 44, both of Johnson City were killed when their car was struck by a tractor-trailer on Interstate 81.
In a statement Friday, the families of the deceased said while mourning this loss, "we also reflect on the generous spirits that [these] 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."
More: Update: Pa. state police ID 5 Broome County residents killed on I-81 in Lackawanna County
Five women killed in I-81 crash
The crash occurred around 5:15 p.m. Tuesday in the northbound lane of I-81 between the Scott and East Benton exits in Scott Township, Lackawanna County.
A Pennsylvania State Police investigation concluded some of the women were traveling north in a Honda Odyssey minivan when the driver lost control and collided with a concrete divider on the highway, leaving the van disabled in the left lane. An Audi A6, carrying two relatives, stopped on the right shoulder to help.
While the women were standing in the left lane, an oncoming tractor-trailer collided with the driver side of the disabled minivan. Havrist and Berivan Zebari, Mayi, Mizouri and Ameen were pronounced dead at the scene.
Parjan Ameen, 22, of Johnson City, who was driving the sedan, sustained moderate injuries. The operator of the tractor-trailer, who has not been identified, suffered minor injuries, troopers said.
The cause of the crash is under investigation. Officials say there was inclement weather at the time.
Hundreds gather for prayer in Johnson City
On Friday afternoon, as snow fell outside the Islamic Organization of the Southern Tier in Johnson City, hundreds of people squeezed between cars in a packed parking lot, and formed an arc around five stretchers draped in white.
With heads bowed, they joined Imam Anas Shaikh in prayer, his lifted voice echoing in the cold air.
Shaikh referenced the giving and kind nature of the women who died, reinforcing the statement issued by the families earlier that day.
"Let us strive to honor their legacy by continuing the spirit of generosity and community service they so passionately exemplified," they said in a statement. "May their memory inspire us to unite in support and kindness, remembering the immeasurable impact they had on the lives of those around them."
A GoFundMe page has been organized to help the families of the deceased. As of Thursday, Feb. 8, the donation page had raised $201,705.
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Five Broome women killed in I-81 crash 'touched countless lives'
