A terrible tragedy struck the Ethiopian community and the Boston chapter of Kinijit earlier this morning when two active members of the community died in a car accident. The two individuals, Ashenafi Mekonnen and Getnet Abate, were returning from a hotel after dropping off Dr Moges Gebremariam who attended a fund raising event last night organized by Kinijit-Boston. The following is a report by The Boston Globe.

Two dead, three injured in overnight crash in Stoneham

By April Simpson, Globe Correspondent
July 29, 2007

Two are dead and three are injured after an early morning accident on Route 93 in Stoneham, State Police said.

At about 2:20 a.m., a Honda SUV traveling south on Route 93 just past exit 34 crossed over a median into the northbound lane and collided with a Ford Ranger, police said.

The driver of the Honda, Ashenafi K. Mekonnen, 45, and his passenger, Getnet Abate, 37, both of Cambridge, were pronounced dead at the scene. Another passenger, Atikem Adissu, 27, of Cambridge, was transported to Mass General Hospital for injuries.

The driver of the 1993 Ford pickup, Randall Howard, 49, and his passenger, Luann Kachmer, 42, both of Westbrook, Maine, were transported to Mass General with “moderate” injuries, state police said.

Police have not yet determined whether speed was a factor, or if any of the drivers or passengers were wearing seatbelts. They have also not determined whether alcohol or drugs were involved.

Initial reports erroneously said Weber Medeiros, 43, of Lowell, caused the accident, but state police said later he was not involved. Medeiros was arrested near the site of the crash and charged with operating under the influence, but was not directly involved, state police said.