Pittsburgh woman charged in Route 28 wrong-way crash that injured 8 kids

A woman from Pittsburgh’s Crafton Heights faces child endangerment charges in connection with a wrong-way crash on Route 28 last week.

The crash injured eight children and three adults, according to a criminal complaint filed in the case.

Fato Muya, 31, is also charged with reckless endangerment, causing an accident involving injury and several traffic violations.

The driver of a silver Ford Taurus told police that he and his passenger were headed south near the Millvale exit when they were struck by a gray Honda Odyssey headed the wrong direction in their lane, according to the criminal complaint.

Muya, who was driving the Honda Odyssey, told officers she was following her GPS and got confused, according to the criminal complaint. She said she missed her exit and made a wrong turn, somehow ending up traveling north in the southbound lanes.

Police said nine people – Muya and eight children – were in the van but it had seating for only eight. Officers said they could only determine for certain whether one of the children was wearing a seat belt, as there was a car seat for an 11-month-old.

There were no other car seats or child booster seats, police said. In addition to the infant, the other children ranged in age from 3 years old to 11.

A 10-year-old girl was treated by paramedics for facial injuries, and six other children were taken to Children’s Hospital to be evaluated, according to the complaint. Muya was taken to UPMC Mercy for treatment. The man and woman in the Taurus reported suffering chest and leg pain.

Police said Muya did not have a valid driver’s license. The complaint said she did not appear to be intoxicated.

A Pittsburgh police officer driving on Route 28 saw the wrong-way driver and informed dispatchers, and the officer’s dashboard camera captured Muya driving in the wrong direction, the complaint said.