The Medical Examiner’s Office has ruled that a 74-year-old man who suffered a heart attack before crashing his vehicle in November died from a combination of injuries and heart-related problems.
Regis A. Dolinak, of 628 S.E. 19th Lane, lost control of his vehicle while traveling southbound in the 2100 block of Academy Boulevard on Nov. 21. He struck a utility pole, stop sign and finally a tree in a median. Dolinak was transported by ambulance to Lee Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 11:54 a.m.
The autopsy report found that while Dolinak suffered heart-related problems during the crash, the blunt force thoracic trauma from the accident compounded the medical problem and resulted in his death. Because the injuries sustained in the crash contributed to Dolinak’s death, the ME’s Office ruled the death a traffic-related fatality. There were no signs of impairment.
Cape Police received the ME’s ruling on Feb. 9 and now will complete a traffic homicide investigation. Cape Coral recorded nine traffic fatalities in 2009.

Source: City of Cape Coral