Sewickley Township woman convicted in fatal head-on Arona Road crash

Dawn Coyne’s two daughters embraced outside of a Westmoreland County courtroom Thursday after the woman police said caused the crash that resulted their mother’s death was convicted of vehicular homicide and 16 other charges.

Ahna L. Malik, 44, of Sewickley Township was handcuffed and taken to prison to await a sentencing hearing in about three months. She faces up to 48 years behind bars for her role in the March 7, 2022, head-on crash on Arona Road in Hempfield.

Coyne, 57, of Madison died from injuries suffered in the morning crash that police said occurred after Malik crossed into oncoming traffic as she rounded a bend. Malik, prosecutors said, was under the influence of drugs at the time of the crash.

“Dawn was a loving mother, grandmother and beloved coworker to many. Her life was tragically taken by the selfless, habitual and careless actions of one woman,” according to a statement by the Coyne family after the verdict was announced.

After more than two hours of deliberations, jurors convicted Malik of all 17 charges she faced including two homicide-by-vehicle counts, driving while under the influence of controlled substances, reckless endangerment and multiple traffic offenses.

Witnesses said Malik was under the influence of amphetamines, methamphetamine and marijuana when she drove with her 17-year-old daughter on the rural road near Arona. Police said they found additional drugs in the vehicle, items Malik days later admitted to investigators belonged to her and she intended to sell.

Assistant District Attorney Allen Powanda told jurors the drugs had a direct impact on Malik’s ability to drive safely. He dismissed defense claims that mechanical issues were responsible for the crash.

“It is clear this was a driver who caused the crash because she was suffering from the effects of having those drugs in her system,” Powanda said.

Malik drove without a valid license, which had been suspended since 2020 as a result of prior drunk driving convictions, prosecutors contended.

Malik did not testify during the three-day trial.

Assistant Public Defender Jack Manderino called on jurors to find Malik not guilty on three of the 17 counts she faced, vehicular homicide while under the influence of drugs, impaired driving and drug possession

“Our belief and position is the drugs had nothing to do with it. Intoxication has nothing to do with it,” Manderino said in his closing argument.

Westmoreland County Common Pleas Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio revoked Malik’s bond, saying she was a risk to community safety and could flee the jurisdiction if allowed to remain free while awaiting sentencing.

Malik served about a year in jail after she was charged and was released in December to house arrest as a result of violations of the state’s speedy trial rights.