A 23-year-old woman is facing 18 criminal charges, including homicide by vehicle, after authorities say she was speeding and intoxicated behind the wheel during a fatal crash inside the Liberty Tunnel earlier this year.
Madison Rau was formally charged this past Thursday by the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police in connection with the early March collision that left two passengers dead.
According to police, Laila Jones, 25, was pronounced dead at the crash site after the vehicle caught fire, while Jalen Wilkerson, 28, succumbed to his injuries at a hospital several days later. Court documents confirm both victims were riding as passengers in the car Rau was operating at the time.
Investigators say data pulled from the vehicle’s onboard systems revealed Rau was traveling at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour while inside the tunnel, and was still going roughly 93 mph when she emerged and struck another car head-on.
A chemical test conducted after the crash reportedly showed Rau’s blood alcohol concentration at .141 percent — nearly double the legal limit in Pennsylvania.
Beyond homicide by vehicle and driving under the influence, police have also charged Rau with aggravated assault by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment, and both careless and reckless driving.
As of now, Rau has not yet appeared in court for arraignment. Authorities have issued a warrant for her arrest, according to court filings.