MINERSVILLE - Charges are unlikely to be filed in the death of an 82-year-old man struck by a vehicle Thursday evening while leaving St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, according to borough police.
Walter Sorokach, Forestville, was hit by a vehicle just before 7 p.m. Thursday near the intersection of Front and Parsonage streets. He died Saturday at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville.
Police said Tanya Crowchunis, 35, of Tremont, was driving a Subaru Legacy south on Front Street when she struck Sorokach near the intersection. Sorokach suffered a head injury and was flown to the hospital.
"Based upon our investigation, it was a tragic accident but we see no criminal charges at this point," Minersville police Chief Michael Combs said Monday. "It's tragic, it's sad, but that's why they are called accidents."
Combs said the road was dark and Sorokach was walking across the street at an angle to get to his vehicle, which was parked farther away from the curb because of the ice and snow. Sorokach appeared to be getting into his vehicle and had his keys in his hand. His head hit the windshield, Combs said.
"Based upon what we looked at, it does not look like excessive speed was involved here," Combs said.
Combs said the accident reconstruction crew with state police has been called to investigate.
"Unless some other evidence comes in, we view this as an accident and not a criminal investigation," he said.