Driver in fatal crash intended to sell drugs found in car, prosecutors claim

A Sewickley Township woman told investigators two days after she was involved in a fatal crash that she intended to sell the drugs that investigators found in her car’s center console.

“Oh, wow. There was a lot of stuff in that car,” Ahna L. Malik said in a recorded interview with police that prosecutors played for jurors Wednesday during the second day of her vehicular homicide trial. “It’s all mine.”

Police contend Malik, 44, was under the influence of drugs when she attempted to pass two vehicles as she drove south on the rural, winding Arona Road in Hempfield on March 7, 2022. Westmoreland County prosecutors claim Malik veered into oncoming traffic in the northbound lane as she rounded a curve and struck a vehicle driven by 57-year-old Dawn E. Coyne of Madison. Coyne died from her injuries.

Investigators say toxicology reports revealed Malik had amphetamines, crystal methamphetamine and marijuana in her blood hours after the crash. Those drugs and cocaine were found in Malik’s vehicle, according to police. She told police she did not use any drugs on the day of the crash.

Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Jordan Shaulis testified the crash was caused by Malik crossing into oncoming traffic. Neither Malik nor Coyne had time to brake before impact.

Malik maintains the poor condition of her car caused the crash. She told police she could not afford to repair her Ford Focus, which she claimed had a history of steering issues, and that the vehicle suddenly lurched to the left just prior to the crash.

Matthew Ferry, a mechanic hired by the state police as part of the investigation, testified Malik’s vehicle had no braking or steering deficiencies but noted there was evidence it was not properly aligned.

“I can’t determine if the vehicle pulled in a direction,” Ferry told Westmoreland County jurors.

Malik’s 19-year-old daughter, Jasmine Bingaman, the defense’s lone witness to testify, said her mother inherited the vehicle with a history of mechanical issues. Bingaman was a front seat passenger at the time of the crash and sustained minor injuries. She said she didn’t believe her mother attempted to pass traffic just before impact.

Closing arguments in the case are scheduled to begin Thursday morning with jury deliberations to follow.