North Versailles man pleads guilty to 2019 fatal crash on Tri-Boro Expressway

A North Versailles man whose blood alcohol was nearly three times the legal limit when he crashed his car on the Tri-Boro Expressway, killing his passenger, pleaded guilty to criminal charges on Monday.

Edward Wharton, 60, will be sentenced on charges of homicide by vehicle, driving under the influence and traffic offenses by Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Susan Evashavik DiLucente on Feb. 28.

The prosecution withdrew a count of homicide by vehicle while DUI, which carries with it a mandatory sentence of three to six years incarceration.

According to Deputy District Attorney William Petulla, Wharton and his friend, William Guyaux, 55, also of North Versailles, had been at the Ukrainian Club in Wilmerding the evening of Oct. 20, 2019. Video footage taken from the club showed that Wharton drank at least 15 alcoholic beverages there.

Video also showed Wharton telling Guyaux that he would make sure he got home safely, Petulla said.

After the men left that location, they went to Monroeville Fire Dept. No. 3, where Wharton drank more, according to video from inside.

The men left the fire department just before 8 p.m., and two minutes later crashed.

Wharton was driving his 2000 Toyota Tundra westbound when he struck a jersey barrier on the Tri-Boro Expressway, between Turtle Creek and Wilmerding, causing him to lose control of the vehicle.

It rolled several times, coming to rest nearly 1,000 feet away, Petulla said. Guyaux, who was ejected from the vehicle, died from his injuries.

The investigation showed Wharton was driving between 57 and 67 mph at the time.

According to lab test results, Wharton’s blood alcohol concentration that night was 0.234%. He also tested positive for cocaine, Petulla said.