Allentown woman arrested in fatal wrong-way DUI crash on Pennsylvania Turnpike

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — An Allentown woman charged in a fatal 2025 wrong-way crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike was taken into custody Wednesday in Northeast Philadelphia, nearly a month after a warrant was issued for her arrest, authorities said.

Onanyeli Rosario-Mesa, 25, was arrested by members of the U.S. Marshals Eastern Pennsylvania Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force in the 2700 block of Stanwood Street, according to a news release from the U.S. Marshals Service.

The fugitive case had been delegated to the Marshals’ Allentown task force after Rosario-Mesa failed to surrender, the release said.

Rosario-Mesa is charged with felony counts of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence and homicide by vehicle, along with involuntary manslaughter, recklessly endangering another person, careless driving — unintentional death, and several DUI and traffic-related offenses, according to a news release from Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan.

Her bail has been set at $500,000, and she remains in Lehigh County Jail, according to the release. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. May 12 before Magisterial District Judge Todd P. Heffelfinger.

The Marshals received an anonymous tip Tuesday evening that Rosario-Mesa was hiding in Philadelphia with her boyfriend, the agency said.

Investigators identified an apartment on Stanwood Street and arrested her there without incident around 11 a.m. Wednesday before transporting her to the Pennsylvania State Police Troop T, Pocono Barracks, for processing and arraignment.

“No action can reverse this senseless tragedy, but I hope that today’s arrest represents progress in delivering justice for the Sweeny family,” said Robert Clark, supervisory deputy U.S. marshal for the Eastern Pennsylvania Violent Crime Fugitive Task Force, in the release.

The charges stem from a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 476 northbound at mile marker 67.0 in Washington Township around 9 a.m. March 30, 2025, prosecutors said. Pennsylvania State Police were called to the scene after several witnesses reported that a vehicle was traveling the wrong way in the northbound lanes and had struck a group of motorcyclists.

One of the riders, 50-year-old John Sweeney Jr., was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the district attorney’s release. The Lehigh County Coroner ruled his death accidental, attributing it to blunt force injuries from the motorcycle and motor vehicle crash.

Witness accounts and video surveillance footage showed Rosario-Mesa’s vehicle traveling southbound in the northbound lanes, passing several vehicles that pulled to the side of the road to avoid her, prosecutors said. Investigators said her vehicle struck the group of motorcyclists, killing Sweeney and endangering several others.

Rosario-Mesa’s blood-alcohol content at the time of the crash was 0.104 percent, according to the district attorney’s office. Pennsylvania’s legal limit for driving is 0.08 percent.

Rosario-Mesa was not charged at the time of the crash. Pennsylvania State Police identified her at the scene and obtained a blood sample, and the investigation continued for about a year before charges were filed.

The Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office filed charges and issued a warrant for her arrest April 7, according to the U.S. Marshals release. Rosario-Mesa failed to surrender and remained at large until Wednesday’s arrest.

The case was investigated by Trooper Brian Hrycyszn of the Pennsylvania State Police and will be prosecuted by Chief Deputy District Attorney V. Paul Bernardino III, according to the district attorney’s release.

Rosario-Mesa is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.