Verona Man Pleads Guilty to Vehicular Homicide

A Verona man has pleaded guilty to several charges in connection to a in the borough last year.

On Wednesday, Joseph Frank Zelek, 57, pleaded guilty before county common pleas court Judge Thomas Flaherty to homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, homicide by vehicle, recklessly endangering another person, driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Charges of involuntary manslaughter, recklessly endangering another person, driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance and reckless driving have been withdrawn.

The Allegheny County Police Department after a vehicle-pedestrian accident occurred last October at the intersection of Center Avenue and Allegheny River Boulevard in Verona. According to an affidavit filed by police, heroin was found inside Zelek's vehicle.

The pedestrian involved, Vincent DeMartino, 63, died of blunt force trauma to the head a few days after the accident, according to the affidavit.

Zelek has been sentenced to three to six years in jail, as well as four years of consecutive probation.

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