Twenty-five-year-old Julie Belliston-Anuszkiewicz, of West Chester Twp., was going east on I-275 near the Wards Corner Overpass around 8:30 a.m. Nov. 13, 2010 when she drove across the median and traveled a half-mile in the wrong direction in the westbound lane. Belliston-Anuszkiewicz’s car hit a minivan driven by 42-year-old Lori Morris, of Milford.
Both women died instantly of their traumatic injuries.
Morris had four passengers in her vehicle — two daughters, ages 14 and 10; Cindy Blair, 37, of Milford, and her 14-year-old daughter.
The four passengers were all injured, but survived.
After a four-month investigation, the coroner released his report Friday, April 1, saying toxicology screens for both Belliston-Anuszkiewicz and Morris were negative for intoxicating substances. The official report goes on to say that Belliston-Anuszkiewicz intentionally drove her car into oncoming traffic.
The coroner calls the facts “self evident” because the incident occurred in the daylight hours with clear weather and dry pavement.
“Anuszkiewicz did not slow down, turn left onto the crossover, and then turn right into the westbound lane as may be expected from someone confused or lost. Tire marks in the grass median indicate that the crossover was a straight diagonal line from the eastbound to the westbound side.
“Witnesses report the car was in control and accelerated once in the westbound lane. Anuszkiewicz was described as ‘conscious,’ ‘focused,’ and ‘on a mission.’ The car did not swerve and there was no evidence that the breaks were applied before impact.
“From these facts there is only one clear conclusion. Ms. Anuszkiewicz purposefully drove her car the wrong way on the interstate,” the report said.
The reason for the move by Belliston-Anuszkiewicz is unclear.
“Anuszkiewicz had not been depressed at the time of the crash. No note was left. Further, this method of suicide seems impractical and unexpectedly malicious.
“For her death to occur in this manner, Ms. Anuszkiewicz would have to choose intentional harm to an unknown, random, and innocent individual.
“If self harm by vehicular crash was the intent, driving into a bridge abutment or other permanent structure seems more expedient. Manner of death by suicide, while possible, is not conclusive. If not for suicide, there must be another possible reason for Ms. Anuszkiewicz’s actions.
“While driving the wrong way on the interstate is unthinkable to any clear minded Individual, Ms. Anuszkiewicz may have been driving with a distorted sense of reality. In her mind, there may have been a logical rationale to her actions. Perhaps she perceived a threat and was fleeing from an unseen assailant.
“Conceivably, she thought there was an unidentified obstacle in her lane ahead that she was trying to avoid. With those thoughts, Ms. Anuszkiewicz’s actions remain indefensible, but they become understandable,” the report said.
The coroner is listing Belliston-Anuszkiewicz’s manner of death as undetermined.