Calgary crash pins Afghan widow and injures child, compounding family’s year of tragedy
Calgary crash injures Afghan widow and child outside pharmacy, compounding grief after her husband’s fatal head-on collision east of Calgary on March 9, 2025.
The family of Aysha Amiri, newcomers from Afghanistan, is reeling after a Calgary crash this week left the 33-year-old widow with a fractured hip and one of her young children with an injured hand. The incident occurred while Amiri waited outside a pharmacy with three children in strollers, a traumatic episode that follows the death of her husband in a separate head-on collision on March 9, 2025. Friends and relatives say the pair of crashes has left the family coping with medical uncertainty, housing insecurity and the loss of their primary breadwinner.
Widow struck outside pharmacy while caring for young children
On the day of the crash, witnesses say a vehicle accelerated unexpectedly, pinning Aysha Amiri against a concrete wall as she stood with her children. Family members report that Amiri suffered a severe hip fracture and required hospitalization at the Foothills Medical Centre. One of her children, a two-year-old boy, sustained an injury to his hand, while two other children escaped more serious harm.
Relatives say the driver remained at the scene and Calgary police have opened an investigation into the collision involving pedestrians. As of publication there has been no public announcement of charges, and investigators are continuing to gather statements and evidence. Family and friends are pressing for clarity about the circumstances of the vehicle’s sudden acceleration.
Husband killed in March 9, 2025 head-on collision east of Calgary
The crash compounds a year of grief for the Amiri family following the death of Aysha’s husband, 33-year-old Faisal Amiri, in a head-on collision on Range Road 284 east of Calgary on March 9, 2025. Faisal, who had worked for eight years as a baker preparing food for the Canadian embassy in Kabul, was travelling with relatives when their vehicle was struck. Two of Faisal’s brothers were seriously injured in that earlier collision and remain in recovery, relatives said.
The family emigrated to Canada after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, citing fears for their safety due to their connections to Canadian missions. Relatives recount that Faisal faced violence while fleeing Afghanistan, including an assault at the Pakistan border, and that the family saw resettlement as a path to security. Those hopes have been shaken by the successive tragedies that followed their arrival in Canada.
Medical status, recovery and daily care needs
After the pharmacy crash, Aysha was initially assessed for internal injuries and mobility concerns, according to family statements. At one point this week her relatives feared she might not walk again, though by Friday she had been discharged from hospital using a walker with outpatient follow-up planned. The family remains uncertain about the long-term prognosis for her hip and how rehabilitation will be financed.
Two brothers injured in the March 2025 head-on collision continue to face recovery challenges, adding to the household’s medical burdens. With Faisal deceased, Aysha has lost the family’s primary earner and the household is relying on extended family for immediate support. Relatives have stepped in to provide round‑the‑clock care for the children while medical decisions are made.
Housing and financial strain on a newly resettled family
Relatives say the family has been on an affordable housing waiting list since Faisal’s death, and that the loss of income has left them precariously housed. Friends and community members have been helping with daily expenses and childcare, but supporters warn those contributions are temporary. Relatives are exploring options such as fundraisers and community donations to cover medical costs, rent and the children’s basic needs.
Support networks within Calgary’s Afghan and broader immigrant communities have mobilized to provide meals and childcare, though organizers say formal fundraising will be required to meet mounting bills. Local social service agencies can provide guidance on benefits and emergency support, but family members say navigating those systems while managing medical care is an added strain.
Police inquiry and community questions about safety
Calgary police confirmed the driver remained at the scene of the pharmacy collision and that an investigation is ongoing into the circumstances that led to pedestrians being struck. Authorities typically examine vehicle mechanics, witness accounts and any available surveillance footage in such cases, though no charges have been announced at this stage. Family members and neighbours have expressed frustration at the slow pace of public information.
Community advocates say the episode highlights the vulnerability of pedestrians and parents with young children, particularly outside businesses and on suburban streets. Questions about curbside safety, vehicle access to sidewalks and the need for clearer safety measures are being raised by those who know the Amiri family.
Family and friends say they want answers about what happened and accountability if negligence is found. In the meantime, they continue to prioritize medical care and the immediate well‑being of the children.
A broad circle of relatives and friends has pledged to support Aysha and her young family as they recover and seek stability. Relatives are considering a public fundraising campaign to help cover medical bills, housing and essential needs while they work through the legal and medical processes ahead.
For now, the family is focusing on recovery and the small daily acts of care that follow a crisis, hoping the community’s support will help them rebuild after two devastating collisions.
