Woman charged with homicide by vehicle for DUI crash in O'Hara Township
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — A woman has been charged in connection with allegedly causing a crash that killed one person and injured several others in O'Hara Township earlier this year.
Alyssa Galiano is facing a list of charges, including homicide by vehicle and homicide by vehicle while DUI, following the crash on Jan. 16 on Freeport Road near Powers Run Road.
Police said she was drinking on the night of the crash, which she allegedly caused by crossing the center line of Freeport Road and crashing into an oncoming car. The crash killed Michael Vernon and injured his wife. Galiano's 7-month-old child was in the backseat and survived the crash.
Charges filed in deadly O'Hara Township crash
First responders were called to the scene of the crash around 6:20 p.m. on Jan. 16.
At the scene, a police officer asked Galiano if she had been drinking and she "responded yes," according to the criminal complaint.
The criminal complaint said officers obtained surveillance video of Galiano appearing to drink alcoholic beverages at Nox Tavern & Grill before the crash. She allegedly left the tavern around 6:08 p.m.
The criminal complaint says Galiano was driving 75 miles per hour seconds before the crash.
Family's attorney speaks about charges
David Landay is representing Maria Vernon, Michael's wife, who was also injured in the crash.
"We were kinda disappointed that it took this long," Landay said. "This crash happened back in January."
KDKA-TV's Mamie Bah asked Landay if there were any plans to file a lawsuit against the bar.
"Absolutely we are looking into that very carefully," Landay said. "We are told there is actually video, surveillance video, of her drinking in the bar with her infant son, I'm told [he] was actually in a car seat up on the bar next to her while she was drinking."
Court documents said that Galiano's 7-month-old child was in the backseat and survived the crash. The same can't be said for Michael Vernon, whose wife Maria is now a widow.
"This poor woman, she'll never be financially compensated for what happened. Mentally and physically she'll never be the same and she just wants some closure," Landay added.
KDKA-TV reached out to the owners of Nox Tavern & Grill but didn't hear back.
