On Saturday night around 11:38 p.m., Rhode Island State Police responded to a harrowing scene on Interstate 95 in West Warwick: a silver Toyota had veered off the highway and crashed into a wooded area. Inside the car were six young people — all trapped after the violent impact. Firefighters from multiple departments urgently worked to cut them out, under the cloak of darkness and with sirens piercing the night.
Tragically, two of those inside did not survive. Nineteen‑year-old Ayanna Voyak, of Hartford, Connecticut, was pronounced dead at the scene. Another passenger, Aisha Jules, also 19 and from New London, Connecticut, was rushed to Rhode Island Hospital, but later succumbed to her injuries. The remaining four occupants were transported to the same hospital; Rhode Island State Police have not released details about their conditions.
Investigators are still piecing together what caused the car to leave the road and slam into the tree. The Rhode Island State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit has launched a full investigation. At this point, they’re considering multiple possibilities — anything from road or weather conditions to potential driver error, or even mechanical failure.
Neighbors say the area near mile marker 23 — where the crash happened — can be dangerous at night. Limited visibility and narrow road shoulders may have played a role, although authorities have not confirmed weather was a factor. One report from New London noted that a local fire official said it was raining at the time of the crash.
The brutal extrication underscored just how serious the accident was. First responders from West Warwick Fire and Rescue, Warwick Fire and Rescue, Hopkins Hill Fire and Rescue, and East Greenwich Fire and Rescue all worked together, cutting away mangled metal and battling the dark to reach each trapped passenger. Their rapid coordination likely made a critical difference in the survival of the other four.
In the wake of the tragedy, the Rhode Island State Police are urging anyone who might have witnessed the crash — or who may have dash-cam or traffic-cam footage — to come forward. They say even small pieces of evidence could help reconstruct the moments leading up to the crash.
Meanwhile, in Connecticut, the news has hit hard. Both young women were just 19 — Ayanna from Hartford, and Aisha from New London — and their loss has sent waves of grief through their communities. Close friends and family are mourning, sharing memories and asking for privacy as they process what happened.
This is a heartbreaking reminder of how fragile life can be, especially when night travel is involved. As authorities continue their investigation, many are left wondering how two promising young lives could be lost so suddenly — and how similar tragedies might be prevented in the future.
