Highland Park Crash Results in Manslaughter Charges
Yesterday, June 13th, 2023, a fatal crash occurred on Route 27 in Highland Park, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and serious injuries for the driver of the Mercedes vehicle involved. Iselin resident, 34-year-old Abeer Viriani, has been charged in connection with this incident. Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Highland Park Police Department’s Chief of Police, Richard Abrams, announced the charges this morning.
At approximately 5:32 PM on June 13th, authorities received reports of a three-car collision at the intersection of Route 27 and North 10th Street in Highland Park. Responding officers discovered that a Mercedes had struck a Subaru, which was occupied by Easton, Maryland residents Peter Palmer and Carol Paul, both in their 70s, who were unfortunately pronounced dead at the scene. Additionally, the Mercedes collided with a Hyundai Elantra, whose driver sustained minor injuries. The driver of the Mercedes, Abeer Viriani, was severely injured in the crash and both she and the Elantra driver received treatment at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.
Following her release from the hospital, on the same day of the accident, Viriani was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree Aggravated Manslaughter and two counts of second-degree Vehicular Homicide. She will remain in custody until her pre-trial detention hearing in Superior Court.
Authorities have requested that anyone who witnessed the accident or has surveillance footage of the area to contact Officer Kevin Garrity of the Highland Park Police Department at 732-572-3800 or Detective Matthew Colonna of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732)745-3354.
As this is still an active case, Viriani is presumed innocent until proven guilty. All charges against her are purely accusations at this point.
In conclusion, yesterday’s tragic collision in Highland Park has resulted in the loss of two innocent lives, with charges brought against the driver responsible for the incident. We hope that light may be shed on this situation and justice will be served.
