Woman facing charges after driving wrong way down Route 28 with 8 children in car, crashing

SHALER TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A woman is facing charges after she allegedly drove the wrong way down Route 28 with eight children in her car, causing a head-on crash with another car.

The eight kids and three adults were taken to the hospital following the crash on June 21.

RELATED >> 11 people, including 8 children, taken to hospitals after wrong-way crash on Route 28

According to the criminal complaint, the driver of the car traveling in the correct direction couldn’t avoid the other car heading straight toward him.

The criminal complaint identified the wrong-way driver as Fato Muya.

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Muya told responding officers that she “got confused” and was following her GPS, which told her she missed an exit and then made a wrong turn. That was when she got on Route 28, traveled in the wrong direction and crashed into another car, according to court documents.

Muya was driving eight children, ages 11, 10, 9, 7, 6, 4, 3, and 11 months old. The only form of child safety seat, including booster seats, in the car was a car seat for the 11-month-old. At least four of the kids weren’t wearing seat belts.

The complaint said Muya didn’t appear to be under the influence of any drugs or alcohol.

The complaint also said Muya didn’t have a valid driver’s license. She said on the scene that she had a permit that was expired.

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Muya’s husband and father of all eight children, Juma Mkomwa, took the 11-month-old from the scene when he arrived. All of the other children were taken to UPMC Children’s Hospital for their injuries with the exception of the 10-year-old, who was treated by EMS on the scene for facial injuries.

“We’re very lucky that it turned out the way that it did,” said Chief Sean Frank of the Shaler Township police at the time of the crash.

Muya is being charged with three counts of second-degree endangerment of the children’s welfare, five counts of third-degree endangerment of the children’s welfare, two counts of recklessly endangering another person, three counts of accidents involving death or personal injury while not properly licensed, and multiple traffic summary charges.

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