Wrong-way crash: Widow's husband sues driver and state
Douglas Kerley filed a civil action against the drunk driver, PennDOT, and the City of Pittsburgh over the death of his wife in April 2025.
By Yasmin Nasser ·
A crash on the Parkway East in April 2025 has led to a civil lawsuit seeking damages from the driver and state agencies. Douglas R. Kerley, the husband of the victim, filed the complaint on Thursday in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court.
The suit was filed on behalf of his wife, Shannon L. Morrow, who was 52 at the time of her death. She was driving a Nissan Frontier westbound on Interstate 376 when she was struck head-on by a truck. Her passenger, Sharon Orlofske, 77, of Monroeville, also died in the collision.
The truck was driven by Pedro Olan Morales, 57, who entered the highway traveling the wrong direction from the Grant Street exit in Downtown Pittsburgh. The crash occurred around 7:30 p.m. on April 13, 2025. Morales’ blood alcohol level was measured at 0.259%, which is more than three times the legal limit.
Morales pleaded guilty to homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence on September 30, 2025. He received a prison sentence of three to six years. Kerley’s new lawsuit adds claims of negligence against the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the City of Pittsburgh.
The complaint argues that the exit lacked adequate warning lights or signs to prevent wrong-way entry. It describes the existing signage as confusing and conflicting. The document states that the wrong-way signs for Exit 71A were placed only at the initial entrance to the off ramp, a spot that may not be visible to drivers amid other Do Not Enter signs at the intersection.
PennDOT and the City of Pittsburgh did not return messages left late Friday regarding the suit.
