Dealing With NE Philadelphia Vehicle Arsons May Be a Long, Slow Slog
By John Ostapkovich
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- There's been no breakthrough so far in the probe of six vehicle arson fires early Sunday in Northeast Philadelphia.
Those fires left both individuals and a social service agency scrambling (see previous story).
Two of the vehicles destroyed were vans used by People Acting To Help ("PATH"). One was equipped with a wheelchair lift, and PATH chief operating officer Jeff Brown says replacement of that type of vehicle will take quite a while.
"It takes ten to 12 weeks for us to get these," he tells KYW Newsradio. "Regardless of what happens with insurance and all that, if I have to order another vehicle, it takes me that long to get it. That then inconveniences, and in some cases limits people's activities."
Brown says these vans would normally have taken about 30 people with intellectual disabilities from homes to daytime activities and back.
He says PATH has reassigned other vans, but somewhere the shortage will be felt. The Pennsylvania insurance department says it may take a little extra time for an adjuster to view the wrecked vehicles because they are also crime scenes.
