Marshals arrest suspect wanted in deadly wrong-way Pa. Turnpike crash

Updated 1 hour ago
WASHINGTON TWP., Pa. (WPVI) -- An arrest has been made in connection with a deadly wrong-way crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike last year.

Onanyeli Rosario-Mesa, 26, of Allentown, was arrested by U.S. Marshals on Wednesday in Northeast Philadelphia.

IMAGE: Photo shows the arrest of Onanyeli Rosario-Mesa by U.S. Marshals on May 6, 2026.



Prosecutors say Rosario-Mesa was driving the wrong way on I-476 northbound on March 30, 2025, when she struck several motorcyclists in Washington Township.

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One of the riders, identified as 50-year-old John Sweeney Jr. of Bristol, was pronounced dead at the scene. Sweeney was part of a small group of motorcyclists traveling on the Turnpike at the time.



Investigators say video showed Rosario-Mesa's vehicle traveling southbound in the northbound lanes, passing several vehicles that pulled over to avoid a collision.

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"She blew by me. It's not like she was doing 30. She was doing 70, 80, 90 miles an hour. I was doing 65," a driver told Action News last year.



Rosario-Mesa is facing charges of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, involuntary manslaughter, and other related offenses.



She remains behind bars on $500,000 bail.

Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on May 12.
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