Turnpike pileup quite a haul for politically connected firm
By Paul Nussbaum, The Philadelphia Inquirer | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
Leipziger's fleet of tow trucks hauled 87 damaged cars, pickups, vans and SUVs, and six tractor-trailers, from the accident scene.
His crews cleared the road in about seven hours, towing broken and battered cars to several lots in
His company will collect at least
Some of the vehicles that can be repaired will be fixed at Leipziger's repair shop. And he buys and sells cars, too, for motorists looking to replace their vehicles.
Leipziger, who started fixing cars in his driveway at age 22, is a rags-to-riches success who has turned his knowledge of cars into an auto-business empire.
He now operates nine collision centers in
He is also a generous political donor.
Leipziger has contributed
Leipziger is a friend of
And, according to sources, Leipziger employs at his dealership
Leipziger declined to discuss his business or political contributions.
Leipziger first won a no-bid towing contract from the
Because of the contract, Rob's Automotive also got the AAA contract to respond to the auto club's members on the same stretch of highway.
The 360-mile-long east-west turnpike is divided into 12 sectors, with a towing company awarded an exclusive contract by the
The current contract makes Rob's Automotive the exclusive towing company for the 27-mile stretch between the
That means Rob's Automotive trucks are dispatched by police or turnpike crews if there's an accident or breakdown on those stretches. (Motorists can request another tow company in the case of a mechanical breakdown, but in vehicle accidents Rob's Automotive is to be the "sole provider of such emergency services," the contract says.)
Last year, Rob's Automotive handled 5,169 calls for the
Capone said Leipziger's political activity played no role in his contracts with the turnpike.
"Rob's has always been one of the top two or three outstanding roadside service providers for us," Capone said. "He has topline facilities and equipment. He has to, to perform the way he did on Friday."
Deon, who went to high school with Leipziger, said, "There are not many guys who have the equipment that guy has or can do what he can. Look at what he did Friday."
Deon said Leipziger had a contract with the turnpike before he became a turnpike commissioner.
The battered cars from Friday's multi-vehicle accident are parked on lots in
Most of the cars are deemed total wrecks, said
TOWING BY THE NUMBERS
45
Miles of the turnpike for which Rob's Automotive is the exclusive towing company.
87
Number of damaged cars, pickups, vans, and SUVs towed from Friday's chain-reaction accident. Six tractor-trailers also were involved.
Minimum amount Rob's Automotive collects from each vehicle's owners or their insurance companies. The company also gets
200
Number of people employed by Rob's Automotive at nine collision centers.
Amount
215-854-4587
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