Five young women were killed by a speeding driver just hours before their best friend’s wedding.
Salma Abdikadir, 20, Sahra Gesaade, 20, Sagal Hersi, 19, Siham Adam, 19, and Sabiriin Ali, 17, were relatives and close friends from Minnesota who were enjoying a night out ahead of their friend’s wedding when they were killed in a horrific collision.
According to the reports, all five girls were killed by a suspected speeding driver who crashed into their vehicle after running a red light while trying to flee the police.
Their loved ones have since revealed that the ladies were shopping at a Minneapolis mall on Friday just hours before their friend’s wedding on Saturday.
After finishing shopping, the friends, three of which are cousins, also decided to get matching henna tattoos to celebrate their friend’s big day.
“These are pearls of our community. They leave a big void. All five of them had bright futures,” Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center’s director, Khalid Omar, said in a tribute to the late members.
“They weren’t doing anything wrong. They were just getting ready for their friend’s wedding.”
Omar also revealed that Salma, Sahra, Sagal, Siham, and Sabiriin worked at the Islamic center as volunteers who helped teach children how to read and write in Arabic.
“We find ourselves in deep sorrow today, for our community experienced a heartbreaking tragedy last night.point 208 |
We have lost five of our bright, young sisters in a severe car accident.point 59 | May Allah grant mercy upon the departed and open the doors of Jannah for them,” a fundraising page launched for the victims’ families by the Islamic Center reads.point 270 | 1
“These young Muslim sisters, were shining stars of hope for our future. Unfortunately, their lives were cut short last night by a driver evading the police.”
The speeding driver has since been identified as 27-year-old Derrick John Thompson. While he initially fled the scene of the crash, he was later apprehended by the police at a nearby Taco Bell.
Our thoughts remain with the victims’ families and loved ones during this challenging time.