June 14, 2023
Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Chief of Police Richard Abrams of the Highland Park Police Department announced today that an Iselin man has been charged in connection with the fatal crash that occurred yesterday, June 13, 2023, on Route 27 in Highland Park.
On June 13, 2023, at approximately 5:32 P.M., authorities responded to the intersection of Route 27 and North 10th Street in Highland Park following the report of a three-car crash. Upon their arrival, officers located a Mercedes operated by Abeer Viriani, 34, of Iselin, that had struck a Subaru occupied by Peter Palmer, 75, of Easton, Maryland, and Carol Paul, 77, of Easton, Maryland. Both occupants of the Subaru were pronounced deceased at the scene. Viriani also struck a Hyundai Elantra, the driver of the Elantra sustained minor injuries. Viriani sustained serious injuries and was transported along with the driver of the Elantra to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital where they were treated for their injuries.
On June 13, 2023, Viriani was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree Aggravated Manslaughter and two counts of second-degree Vehicular Homicide. Viriani is being held pending a pre-trial detention hearing in Superior Court.
Anyone with information or surveillance footage of the area is asked to call Officer Kevin Garrity of the Highland Park Police Department at 732- 572-3800 or Detective Matthew Colonna of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732)745-3354.
As is the case with all criminal defendants, the charges against Viriani are merely accusations and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
