York Police Appeal To Witnesses For Information In Fatal Halloween Crash
Posted November 3, 2008 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
York Regional Police officers are appealing for witnesses to come forward following a fatal Halloween crash in Richmond Hill that claimed the lives of two young women.
It happened at about 10:30pm Friday, when the vehicle the girls were in collided with an SUV near the intersection of Bayview and 16th Avenues.
Atena Arabsalmany and Niloufar Khanverdizadeh, both 21 years old, died that night. The two had been best friends since high school and were students at York University.
Though the circumstances of what exactly transpired at that intersection remain unclear, it’s believed the Mazda 3 the girls were in crossed the centre lanes, hit a Jeep, and burst into flames. The Mazda driver remains in critical condition.
There has been speculation that the girls attempted to pull a U-turn, but Arabsalmany’s family denies that. They also maintain that neither speeding nor alcohol were factors.
Five police officers and two passers-by who came to the victims’ aid were treated for smoke inhalation. Autopsy results have pinpointed the cause of death as multiple blunt force trauma sustained on impact.
Atena’s mother Azam Arabsalmany shared that her daughter didn’t even want to go out on the ill-fated night of her death. She said she was too tired to attend the party she was invited to.
“I said, ‘No, you can go and have a fun with your friend.’ I think it was my fault,” the devastated mom said.
None of the passengers in the Jeep were seriously hurt.
Police had been looking to speak with the driver of a gold-coloured Toyota Corolla – that person has since come forward and was being treated as a witness.
If you saw anything, call York Regional Police at 905-773-1221.
The funeral for Khanverdizadeh has yet to be finalized but Arabsalmany will be laid to rest at 11am Wednesday at the Imam Ali Mosque at 120 B ermondsey Rd.
