The 8-year-old victim was preparing to enter third grade when she and her father died Saturday night in North Reading.
ANDOVER, Mass. — An Andover school community is mourning an incoming third grader and her father after both were killed Saturday night when investigators say another driver struck their vehicle while it was stopped at a red light in nearby North Reading.
Family members identified the victims to local news organizations as 35-year-old Samir Naili and his 8-year-old daughter, Kashmera Naili. Authorities initially described those killed as an adult man and a minor and had not formally released their identities in the first announcement about the crash. The girl was preparing to begin third grade at South School in Andover.
The collision happened at about 10:45 p.m. Aug. 22 on Route 28 near the intersection of Main and North streets. The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office said a speeding Acura MDX struck the Honda HR-V carrying the father and daughter while the Honda was stopped at a red light. The Honda caught fire after the impact, and first responders and a bystander attempted to rescue the occupants. Both died at the scene.
Family members told WCVB that the father and daughter had left home on a short trip to buy milk. Naili’s mother described her son as a devoted father who loved music and enjoyed teaching his daughter. She described her granddaughter as smart, empathetic and kind and said she cared about her classmates and friends.
The deaths came just as families were preparing for a new school year. Andover school officials notified the South School community of the loss with the family’s permission. Superintendent Keith Taverna and Principal Brenda Lee said the district was heartbroken and would provide support to students, families and staff members affected by the deaths.
Andover Public Schools said members of its mental health team would be available at South School on Monday and Tuesday. The district’s response reflects the immediate impact of the crash beyond the scene in North Reading, where emergency crews and nearby residents had tried to help after the collision.
Police and prosecutors have charged 21-year-old Matthew Sweeney of Paxton with felony motor vehicle homicide, operating under the influence and operating to endanger. Investigators allege he was driving the Acura at a high rate of speed before it struck the stopped Honda. The charges are allegations and have not been proven in court.
Sweeney was arrested at the scene and was scheduled to appear Monday in Woburn District Court. Authorities have not publicly released a complete reconstruction of the crash or the evidence underlying the impairment allegation, and the investigation remains ongoing.
For South School, the immediate focus Monday was on supporting a community facing the death of a child who had been preparing to enter a new classroom and begin third grade. School officials said their crisis support team would remain available as students, staff members and families process the loss.
Author note: Last updated August 24, 2026.