ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A woman facing multiple felony charges in a fatal wrong-way crash last year on the Pennsylvania Turnpike was taken into custody Wednesday in Philadelphia, officials said.
Onanyeli Rosario-Mesa, 25, of Allentown, was charged last month in a March 30, 2025, crash on Interstate 476 northbound in Washington Township, Lehigh County, but had remained at large.
Rosario-Mesa was sent to Lehigh County Jail under $500,000 bail and remained there Wednesday.Lehigh County District Attorney's office news release
Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan and Capt. Seth J. Kelly, State Police Troop M commanding officer, announced Wednesday she was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Eastern Pennsylvania Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force.
She faces charges of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter,
and recklessly endangering another person.
Also, DUI/unsafe driving, DUI with a blood-alcohol content of 0.10 to 0.16%, careless driving–unintentional death and driving on the wrong side of the road.
Rosario-Mesa was sent to Lehigh County Jail under $500,000 bail and remained there, according to a news release.
Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. May 12 before District Judge Todd P. Heffelfinger.
Details of the crash
Authorities said that around 9 a.m. the day of the incident, state police were called to a three-vehicle crash at mile marker 67.0 on the Turnpike.
Witnesses had called 911 and said a vehicle driven by Rosario-Mesa was driving the wrong way in the northbound lanes when her vehicle hit several motorcyclists.
There were two damaged motorcycles at the scene.
One driver, identified as John Sweeney Jr., 50, was deceased at the scene. Sweeney died from blunt force injuries from the crash, and the Lehigh County Coroner ruled his death his accidental.
Police said witnesses as well as video surveillance footage showed Rosario-Mesa’s vehicle driving southbound in the northbound lanes, passing several vehicles that pulled to the side of the road to avoid her.
The investigation also revealed Rosario-Mesa’s vehicle struck the group of motorcyclists, killing Sweeney and endangering several others.
At the time of the crash, Rosario-Mesa’s blood-alcohol content was 0.104%, authorities said.
The case was investigated by state police Trooper Brian Hrycyszn and will be prosecuted by Chief Deputy District Attorney V. Paul Bernardino III.
