Estate Of Man Hit By Car Reaches Settlement

The estate of a pedestrian killed after being hit by a car in Plymouth earlier this year has reached a $115,000 settlement with insurance providers, according to a petition filed in court Tuesday.

Dean A. Eckrote, 56, of Reyburn, Union Twp., died at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital after being struck along East Main Street around 9:30 p.m. April 19.

According to the Luzerne County Coroner’s Office, Eckrote died of multiple traumatic injuries and the cause of death was ruled accidental.

In a filing Tuesday, attorney Harry P. McGrath Jr., of the Kingston law firm Fellerman & Ciarimboli Law, wrote that the parties have settled the case for $115,000.

That includes $15,000 from The Hartford Insurance Co. on behalf of the unidentified driver, $15,000 in under-insured motorist coverage from Eckrote’s Safe Auto Insurance Co. policy, and $85,000 in under-insured motorist coverage from an Erie Insurance policy owned by Eckrote’s nephew, the filing says.

The petition called for Fellerman & Ciarimboli to be reimbursed for $46,164 in counsel and litigation costs out of the settlement.

Luzerne County Judge David W. Lupas signed an order approving the settlement later Tuesday.