A Monroeville man is now facing felony charges nearly a year after a deadly East McKeesport crash that killed a 45-year-old driver. Prosecutors say Aaron Bertoluzzi is responsible for a two-vehicle collision at 5th Avenue and Penn Avenue that left one man dead and another injured, following a lengthy review by county homicide and crash-reconstruction teams.
Charges and Investigators' Findings
Court paperwork reviewed by CBS Pittsburgh states that 62-year-old Aaron Bertoluzzi of Monroeville had a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.176% after the crash. Forensic data pulled from his vehicle allegedly showed it traveling about 48 mph in a posted 35 mph zone.
According to the filings, Bertoluzzi told investigators at the hospital that he had been drinking after an argument between his ex-wife and his girlfriend. Prosecutors have charged him with homicide by vehicle while DUI, involuntary manslaughter, driving under the influence, and related traffic violations, the documents say.
The Crash Last Summer
Emergency crews responded shortly before 7 p.m. on July 25, 2025 to the intersection of 5th Avenue and Penn Avenue after reports of a two-vehicle collision. One driver, later identified as 45-year-old Brian Jackson of Swissvale, died at a hospital, as reported by WPXI. Local outlets covered the original wreck, including Hoodline's report, One Dead, Another Injured.
At the time, Allegheny County Police’s Homicide Unit and Collision Reconstruction Unit opened an investigation and asked witnesses to contact the county tip line.
Legal Implications
Pennsylvania treats deaths linked to impaired driving as serious felonies: homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence is codified in the state code and involuntary manslaughter falls under the Crimes Code, according to the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes. Penalties depend on the particular statute and a defendant’s prior record, and convictions in fatal DUI cases can carry multi-year prison terms. How the case proceeds will hinge on the preliminary hearing and any evidence presented at trial.
According to court records, Bertoluzzi has not yet been taken into custody and is awaiting a preliminary hearing, CBS Pittsburgh notes. The filing renews attention on deadly impaired-driving crashes in the region and moves the matter into the Allegheny County court system.
