Thomas Willgruber dies while helping his twin brother parallel park the car.

**Jessiesgirl1108** · September 28th, 2009, 01:30 PM

Almost since birth, identical twins Thomas and Timothy Willgruber have been inseparable. Even at 56 years old, the Allentown men rarely went a day with talking.

That closeness only makes it more difficult for the Willgruber family to cope with the fact that Thomas was killed Saturday when he was hit by the minivan driven by his brother.

According to Bethlehem Police, Thomas was outside the car, helping his brother parallel park, when Timothy lost control and pinned him against another vehicle.

Police say alcohol was involved, but Timothy Willgruber has not been charged, pending the results of blood-alcohol tests.

''They were so close, like best friends,'' said Thomas Willgruber's wife of 26 years, Nancy, as she was overcome by emotion. ''They talked to each other every day, they didn't need a reason. They just talked about life.''

Thomas, a door-to-door salesman who graduated from Allentown Central Catholic in 1972, was described as the consummate family man who doted on this daughters, liked to cheer people up by making them laugh, and often called friends just to brighten their day. Timothy was the bachelor, always there for his brother to share in his love for music or visit NASCAR events with him.

So it was not a surprise that the two set out together Saturday to watch the Showing of the Tartan Parade at the Celtic Classic Festival in Bethlehem.

Timothy was driving, and his brother got out of the minivan about noon to help him park in the 600 block of Guetter Street. Police still aren't sure how, but as he parked, Timothy pinned his brother against a sport utility vehicle at the back of the parking space.

Thomas Willgruber, of the 100 block of Franklin Street, was taken to St. Luke's Hospital-Fountain Hill, where he was pronounced dead about 8 p.m., according to the Lehigh County Coroner's Office.

Timothy Willgruber failed a field sobriety test and police are still awaiting the results of a blood-alcohol tests to determine whether he will be charged with drunken driving.

Police are considering other charges against Timothy Willgruber.

''Alcohol played a role, but how much, we don't know,'' said Bethlehem police Capt. Dave Kravatz.

Nancy Willgruber said the family is focusing on the loss, not the circumstances surrounding it.

''It was a freak accident,'' she said. ''It's already a tough situation. It's not the right time to worry about blame.''

http://www.mcall.com/news/police/all...,3028463.story

**SickenEd** · September 28th, 2009, 01:34 PM

Damn. That's sad. Just another example of why NOT to drink and drive. I mean, if it was due to the alcohol, sure, he deserves to be punished, but, I'm pretty sure that there isn't a punishment they can dole out that will be worse than the torture he will feel for the rest of his life.

**lundwall1** · September 28th, 2009, 01:42 PM

Drinking and Driving is NOT a good combo - AT ALL - but no matter what the "law" does to him - will be nothing compared to what he is going thru internally. I believe he may already be bieng severly punished. Very very sad story.

**drkeegee** · September 28th, 2009, 02:04 PM

Evidently this happens more frequently that I thought. There was a recent case of a young boy learning to drive who did the exact same thing to his father (maybe I read it on DD?).

RIP Thomas Willgruber

**Dneilz** · September 28th, 2009, 02:13 PM

How sad. Rest in Peace... Alcohol and driving don't mix. As sad as it is, he shouldn't have been driving.

''It was a freak accident,'' she said. ''It's already a tough situation. It's not the right time to worry about blame.''

I agree.

**MichaelJCheaney** · September 28th, 2009, 03:26 PM

RIP Thomas!

**Pete Bondurant** · September 28th, 2009, 04:11 PM

Well....at least the family has a spare.

**Jessiesgirl1108** · September 28th, 2009, 04:15 PM

Originally Posted by Pete Bondurant

Well....at least the family has a spare.

That was probably the funniest yet least controversial thing I've seen you post on here!

**thequeenofsorrow** · October 7th, 2009, 09:00 AM

ALLENTOWN, Pa. - October 6, 2009 (WPVI) -- A man who accidentally killed his twin brother last month in Allentown has committed suicide, police say.
Authorities say Timothy Willgruber, 56, of Allentown hanged himself on Tuesday. He was expected to be charged with homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence in the death of his brother, Thomas.
Police said Timothy Willgruber had a blood-alcohol level of 0.20.

Back on September 27th, the Willgruber twins were at the Celtic Fest in Bethlehem.

Investigators say when Thomas got out of the vehicle to help Timothy parallel park his mini-van, Timothy somehow lost control of the vehicle and crushed Thomas between the mini-van and a parked SUV. Thomas was killed.
Timothy Willgruber failed a sobriety test at the scene.

Timothy and his twin brother both have records of driving drunk in Lehigh County.

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?se...cal&id=7050880

**SickenEd** · October 7th, 2009, 09:09 AM

Originally Posted by thequeenofsorrow

ALLENTOWN, Pa. - October 6, 2009 (WPVI) -- A man who accidentally killed his twin brother last month in Allentown has committed suicide, police say.
Authorities say Timothy Willgruber, 56, of Allentown hanged himself on Tuesday. He was expected to be charged with homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence in the death of his brother, Thomas.
Police said Timothy Willgruber had a blood-alcohol level of 0.20.

Back on September 27th, the Willgruber twins were at the Celtic Fest in Bethlehem.

Investigators say when Thomas got out of the vehicle to help Timothy parallel park his mini-van, Timothy somehow lost control of the vehicle and crushed Thomas between the mini-van and a parked SUV. Thomas was killed.
Timothy Willgruber failed a sobriety test at the scene.

Timothy and his twin brother both have records of driving drunk in Lehigh County.

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?se...cal&id=7050880

This story just gets sadder and sadder. I feel so badly for the family that has now lost not one, but two people. What guilt this poor man must have felt. IMO suicide is one of the most selfish things a person can do. I understand why he felt this was the best thing for him, but, now his poor family is grieving for him and his brother.

**RaVen Blackehart** · October 7th, 2009, 02:09 PM

Authorities in eastern Pennsylvania say a man accused of killing his identical twin brother in a parallel parking accident has killed himself.

Lehigh County Coroner Scot Grim says 56-year-old Timothy Willgruber hanged himself in his Allentown home. His body was discovered Tuesday.

Police say Willgruber faced charges including vehicular homicide and drunken driving stemming from the death of his brother Thomas last month in Bethlehem.

Authorities say Thomas Willgruber was guiding his brother into a parking space when Timothy Willgruber lost control and pinned him against an SUV. Thomas Willgruber died later that night.

Bethlehem police Capt. David Kravatz says Timothy Willgruber was "devastated" after the accident. Family members say the brothers were best friends who rarely went a day without talking.

http://www.buffalonews.com/260/story/820488.html