Ronk
KINGSTON – A 41-year-old Town of Esopus man pled guilty in Ulster
County Court on Friday to vehicular manslaughter.
When sentenced in July, John Ronk faces a maximum sentence of five to
15 y eras in state prison.
Ronk admitted to driving a Nissan Xterra SUV while intoxicated and causing
the death of a bicyclist, Brian Jones, at about 7:30 p.m. on September
14, 2017. Jones, 41, was the father of six children.
Ronk’s blood alcohol content was .32.
This was not the first vehicular manslaughter guilty plea for Ronk. On
July 4, 2000 he killed a passenger in a pickup truck in Rhinebeck while
Ronk was intoxicated.
He was sentenced in that case to one to three years in state prison.
Investigation in this current case revealed that Rank crossed over the
double yellow centerlines and struck the rear tire of Jones’ bike
causing Jones t be thrown and killed.
After striking Jones, two wheels from Ronk’s vehicle drove up on
a guiderail for several feet before correcting and striking a utility
pole.
Ronk attempted to flee on foot, but a passing motorist called 911 and
alerted the sheriff’s office and deputies apprehended him minutes
after the crash.
