A Ponoka teenager has been identified as one of six people killed in a horrific crash on the August long weekend east of Golden, B.C.
Syeda Alizay Asad, 14, died when the westbound minivan she was travelling in collided head on with a motorhome on the Trans Canada Highway at about 11:35 a.m. on Aug. 1.
The deceased driver, Arshad Mahmood, and his wife Shekila and their two teenaged daughters, were family friends of the girl. They were from Edmonton. Another passenger, Arshad’s father, Muhammed Shraif, 81, of Pakistan, also died at the scene.
The fifth member of the Mahood family, 11-year-old Muhammad Aashar Mahmood, was riding in another vehicle with Asad’s family and wasn’t hurt.
“Both the driver and front passenger of the minivan were wearing their seat belts, however given the nature of the collision and size of motorhome involved, it is clear that they suffered severe trauma from the impact of the collision,” said Cpl. Dan Moskaluk, spokesman for Kelowna RCMP. “All four rear compartment passengers were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the collision.”
Police are investigating driver fatigue or inattention as possible causes of the crash.
A full mechanical inspection of the van was to be done to determine if mechanical failure was a factor.
With Red Deer Advocate files