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Denise Polinchak was struck by the door of her car while it was being towed, police say.
The death of a woman who was knocked to the ground while her car was being towed has been ruled a homicide by Luzerne County Coroner John Corcoran.
An autopsy done Wednesday on the body of Denise Polinchak, 55, determined she died of multiple traumatic injuries to her head. Her death was ruled a homicide after the autopsy by forensic pathologist Dr. Gary Ross.
Polinchak, of Wilkes-Barre, died Tuesday morning at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center from injuries she suffered when she fell to the pavement outside the Social Security Building on East Mountain Boulevard, Plains Township, Monday night. Polinchak was employed at the facility.
Plains Township police Chief James O’Malley said Polinchak was knocked to the ground when the driver’s side door on her car opened and struck her. Her car was being towed by Herbert’s Towing, O’Malley said.
Police Sgt. Dave Abraham identified the tow truck driver as Robert Wickham, 55.
O’Malley said Wickham was taken to Wilkes-Barre General Hospital for a blood-alcohol test. Abraham said alcohol may have played a role in the accident. No charges have been filed.
No one answered the telephone at Herbert’s Towing, located on North River Street, Wilkes-Barre, on Wednesday.
Polinchak had a problem with her vehicle and contacted AAA Mid-Atlantic for assistance, police said.
In a news release on Wednesday, AAA Mid-Atlantic said it is “saddened by the circumstances surrounding the accident” and expressed its condolences to Polinchak’s family.
AAA Mid-Atlantic said it suspended Herbert’s from providing service to AAA members, citing an unrelated possible breach of a contract agreement.
“This is a completely separate matter and unrelated to the accident involving Ms. Polinchak,” the news release from AAA Mid-Atlantic states.
AAA Mid-Atlantic said Herbert’s is one of several AAA independent contractors in Luzerne County and has been a contractor for AAA for at least 30 years. Herbert’s averages approximately 500 calls for service each month for AAA Mid-Atlantic, the news release says.
Once accepted by AAA Mid-Atlantic as an independent contractor, each business must annually certify it has conducted background checks for felony and misdemeanor convictions, including annual vehicle and driving records checks for all drivers providing roadside assistance.
Herbert’s recently submitted certification on Jan. 19 stating it was in full compliance with AAA Mid-Atlantic requirements.
Wickham pleaded guilty to a summary citation of driving with improper tires in October 2001, according to county court records.
Another Herbert’s tow truck driver, who is not involved in the current investigation, has a theft conviction from 2004, and is facing theft charges in county court, court records say.
(Denise) Polinchak had a problem with her vehicle and contacted AAA Mid-Atlantic for assistance, police said.