Sewickley Township woman to serve 6-15 years in prison for fatal Arona Road crash

Jason Yarosik said his aunt was the glue that held his family together.

Dawn Coyne, 57, of Madison spent years caring for her ailing husband who died from cancer in 2017, loved all three of her now adult children and served as a manager of the Goodwill store in North Huntingdon. She was killed two years ago in head-on crash on Arona Road in Hempfield by a car driven by Ahna Malik, 45, of Sewickley Township.

Malik, who was under the influence of drugs when the crash occurred, was ordered Tuesday to serve six to 15 years in prison by Common Pleas Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio.

“That day was 100% avoidable and preventable. This is the part that causes our family the most grief,” Yarosik said during a sentencing hearing for Malik. “This defendant lived a life where driving under the influence of drugs is normal. Our hope is there is a substantial sentence so another family isn’t sitting in this courtroom enduring what we have for years.”

Following a three-day trial in May, Malik was convicted of multiple counts of driving under the influence of drugs, vehicular homicide, reckless endangerment and related offenses in connection with the March 7, 2022, crash.

Prosecutors 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 and attempted to pass two vehicles as she rounded a bend.

Assistant District Attorney Allen Powanda argued for Malik to serve up to 20 years in prison, saying her prior criminal record — which includes at least one previous drunk driving conviction, multiple suspensions of her driver’s license, 41 violations of the state’s motor vehicle code and 29 incidents where she failed to respond to summary traffic citations — warranted a substantial period of incarceration.

“Ms. Malik’s license expired in 2018, and if she would have complied with the law, this offense would not have occurred,” Powanda said.

Coyne’s brother-in-law, Thomas Coyne, pleaded with Malik to listen to and consider his family’s ongoing grief.

“The damage you caused is bigger than you realized and irreversible. You will never be able to understand the pain you caused our family,” Coyne said.

Assistant Public Defender Jack Manderino at trial argued the fatal crash was caused by a mechanical failure of Malik’s vehicle and not her drug use. Manderino asked the judge for leniency that included concurrent sentences that would result in a sentence no longer than the five- to 10-year mandatory minimum penalty she faced under state law.

Malik declined to speak during the hearing.

Bilik-DeFazio said Malik’s actions warranted a lengthy prison sentence.

“I believe there is a lack of insight into your behavior and I’m not sure you really understand what brought you here today,” the judge said. “You showed a total disregard for the safety of the community and I’m not sure you understand that today.”