The exact cause of death for Allison Rahmani, a Long Island mother of four and educator, who died after her SUV plunged into her family's backyard pool, will likely remain undetermined. Rahmani's family, adhering to Orthodox Jewish beliefs that discourage autopsies, opted out of the procedure, a relative told The Post.
Sources close to the situation indicated that Rahmani, 40, may have experienced a medical episode prior to losing control of her vehicle. However, the family's decision means the specific medical event, if any, that led to the crash will not be officially documented.
Many within the Orthodox Jewish community believe in prompt burials and view autopsies as a violation of the body. Rahmani was buried on Sunday.
Under New York State Public Health law, families can refuse an autopsy on religious grounds, provided there is no ongoing criminal investigation or a public health concern necessitating the procedure. Authorities have classified Rahmani's death as a tragic accident and have not initiated any criminal investigation.
This situation echoes a similar case in 2024 involving attorney Salvatore Strazzullo, who was found dead in his parents' Brooklyn garage. His deeply religious Catholic family also refused an autopsy on religious grounds, leading the city's medical examiner to declare the cause of death as "undetermined."
Police reported that Rahmani was able to call 911 after her vehicle entered the pool but succumbed to her injuries while en route to the hospital in an ambulance.
Rahmani served as the math coordinator at the Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns in Rockaway. Her funeral service was held Sunday at Boulevard-Riverside Chapels in Hewlett.