Wyomissing, PA (March 7, 2026) — A Reading woman has died following a pedestrian accident on a busy Wyomissing thoroughfare on Friday afternoon. The Wyomissing Police Department identified the victim as Eugenia Polonski, 71.
The incident occurred at approximately 1:15 p.m. in the 2200 block of State Hill Road, specifically at the entrance to the Berkshire Square Shopping Center. According to investigators, Polonski was struck by a 2015 Lexus SUV operated by Margo Lemke of Moline, Illinois. Emergency responders rushed Polonski to Reading Hospital, but she tragically succumbed to her injuries shortly after arrival.
The Pennsylvania State Police Accident Reconstruction Team was summoned to the scene to assist local authorities. Following a consultation with the Berks County District Attorney’s Office, police cited Lemke for violating Section 3323(b) of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code, which pertains to “Duties at Stop Signs.” In a remarkably swift legal turn, Lemke was taken immediately before Magisterial District Judge David Yoch, where she entered a guilty plea to the summary offense.
State Hill Road remained closed between Berkshire Boulevard and Colony Drive for nearly three hours as investigators mapped the scene. Wyomissing Police were assisted by units from West Reading, Spring Township, and the Wyomissing Fire Department.
Pedestrian Accident in Pennsylvania
Pedestrian accidents involving stop sign violations present a clear-cut yet devastating scenario within the Pennsylvania legal system. Under Section 3323(b), every driver approaching a stop sign must come to a complete halt at a clearly marked stop line—or before entering the crosswalk—and yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian in the path of travel. In this instance, the driver’s immediate guilty plea to the citation serves as a powerful admission of negligence that can significantly impact any subsequent civil proceedings.
Liability in pedestrian cases is often contested by insurance companies, who may attempt to argue that the pedestrian was not in a designated crosswalk or was otherwise distracted. However, an immediate guilty plea to a traffic citation provides a “negligence per se” foundation—meaning the driver’s violation of a safety law is itself proof of negligence. A Pennsylvania personal injury attorney helps secure police reconstruction reports and witness statements to ensure the victim’s family is protected from insurance tactics and that the full scope of the driver’s accountability is recognized.
If you have questions about your legal rights following a pedestrian accident in Berks County or have lost a loved one in a collision, contact Stanley Law Office at 888-997-3889 for a free, private consultation. We are here to help you find the answers and support your family deserves.
