More than a year after a deadly wrong-way crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, Lehigh County prosecutors have filed charges against the woman they say was behind the wheel.
On April 10, 2026, the Lehigh County District Attorney's Office charged 25-year-old Onanyeli Rosario‑Mesa in the death of motorcyclist John Joseph Sweeney Jr. The 50-year-old Bristol resident was killed on March 30, 2025, when a car traveling the wrong way collided with a group of riders, authorities said. An arrest warrant has been issued, and Rosario‑Mesa remains at large, according to prosecutors.
Crash on I‑476
State police say the collision happened at about 9:09 a.m. on March 30, 2025, on Interstate 476 northbound near mile marker 67 in Washington Township, Lehigh County. Investigators say a vehicle heading south in the northbound lanes struck two motorcycles that were part of a group ride.
Witnesses and surveillance footage showed other drivers steering onto the shoulder to avoid the wrong-way car, details that were reported by Times News Online.
Victim identified
Lehigh County Coroner Daniel Buglio identified the rider who died as John Joseph Sweeney Jr., 50, of Bristol, and said Sweeney was pronounced dead at the scene. Buglio ruled the manner of death accidental and listed blunt-force injuries as the cause, as reported by Patch.
Charges and warrant
On April 10, 2026, the Lehigh County District Attorney's Office announced a slate of charges against Rosario‑Mesa that includes homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, recklessly endangering another person, DUI-related offenses, careless driving resulting in death, and driving the wrong way on a one-way roadway.
Rosario‑Mesa is described by prosecutors as a 25-year-old originally from the Bronx and most recently living in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. She remains at large, and authorities are asking anyone with information on her whereabouts to call 911, according to Daily Voice Allentown.
What the charges mean
Homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence is classified as a felony under Pennsylvania law, specifically 75 Pa.C.S. § 3735. The statute provides separate grading and sentencing schemes that depend on prior convictions and other circumstances.
With the filing of charges, the case moves into the county criminal court system. Under state law and standard practice, Rosario‑Mesa is presumed innocent while the investigation continues and any court proceedings play out, as outlined in the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes.
