Man's Mother, Girlfriend Killed In Wrong-Way Pittsburgh Parkway Crash

PITTSBURGH, PA — A man's mother and girlfriend were the victims in Sunday's fatal wrong-way crash on the Parkway East near the Allegheny County Jail.

Pennsylvania State Police on Monday said the driver of the vehicle traveling in the wrong direction, Pedro Morales, 56, of North Carolina, has been charged with aggravated assault by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, recklessly endangering another person, accidents involving injury or death while not licensed and numerous traffic violations related to the crash. Police said additional charges could be filed when lab results are obtained.

The crash occurred at about 7:30 p.m. on I-376 West near mile marker 71 near the Grant Street and Second Avenue exits.

Trooper Rocco Gagliardi said Morales was driving a Chevy Silverado eastbound and crashed into a Nissan Frontier that was headed westbound. A third vehicle was driving in front of the Nissan; the unidentified driver saw Morales and swerved out of the way.

"Unfortunately, at that time, he then witnesses the Silverado go directly into the vehicle behind him. That vehicle that gets struck on impact is including the driver, which is his girlfriend," Gagliardi said at a news conference. "The passenger in that vehicle was the mother of the boyfriend in front of them."

The driver, Shannon Morrow, 52, of Mt. Lebanon, was pronounced dead at the scene. The passenger, Sharon Orlofske, 77, was taken to a nearby hospital where she died.

Morales is being held in the county jail without bond.