By: Richard L. Smith
Tributes are pouring in from across Newark and the Essex County community as family members, friends and coworkers mourn two women whose lives were tragically cut short in Tuesday morning’s horrific crash on Interstate 78.
Ms. Ayesha Wright, 42, and Ms. Kendra Rouse, 25, both of Newark, were killed when a tractor-trailer overturned onto the Chevrolet sedan they were traveling in, according to New Jersey State Police.
Beyond the details of the crash, heartfelt messages shared on social media are providing a glimpse into who the two women were and the impact they had on those around them.
Friends and relatives remembered Wright as a beloved sister, cousin and woman of faith whose praise and devotion left a lasting impression on her family.
“Rest my sister,” one relative wrote in an emotional tribute, adding that Wright “taught us how to praise” and would be deeply missed.
Rouse was remembered by friends and former coworkers for her smile, generosity and close relationships with those around her.
One friend recalled the meals and homemade treats they exchanged and the everyday conversations that turned a workplace friendship into something much more meaningful.
The friend also remembered Rouse as a devoted mother who frequently spoke about her 3-year-old daughter, writing that she loved her child deeply and talked about her every day.
The tragedy happened at approximately 9:08 a.m. on I-78 East near milepost 56.8 in Newark.
According to a preliminary investigation by New Jersey State Police, a Mack tractor hauling a utility trailer was traveling east when it approached Wright’s Chevrolet, which was stopped in traffic in the left lane.
State Police said the truck attempted an evasive steering maneuver before overturning onto the Chevrolet.
Wright, who was driving, and Rouse, her passenger, suffered fatal injuries. The truck driver sustained minor injuries.
As investigators continue working to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash, the growing number of tributes show that for those who knew Wright and Rouse, Tuesday’s tragedy is about far more than what happened on I-78.
It is about two Newark women — a sister, cousin, friend, coworker and mother — whose absence is already being deeply felt by the people who loved them.
The crash remains under investigation by New Jersey State Police.