WASHINGTON – NY State Police have arrested a man that was driving a car when it crashed and killed his passenger in January of 2020. On August 19, 2020, State Police, in conjunction with the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office arrested 28-year-old James Ruiz, of Amenia, for Vehicular Manslaughter in the 1st degree, a class C felony, and Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated, an unclassified misdemeanor.
State Troopers say that at approximately 11:20 pm on January 8, Troopers responded to the Shunpike between State Route 44 and Kennels Road for a report of one car off the roadway, into a tree, and engulfed in flames. The initial investigation said Ruiz was operating a Toyota sedan and went off the roadway and struck a tree. The vehicle ignited and was engulfed in flames when emergency personnel arrived. Passenger Jeremy Annis, age 20, also of Amenia, was pronounced deceased on scene by the Dutchess County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Ruiz was airlifted to Westchester Medical Center by Life Net Air 2 in critical condition.
Following the fatal January crash, the State Police and the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office produced an indictment for the arrest of Ruiz by a grand jury.
James Ruiz was arraigned before the Dutchess County Supreme Court and remanded to the Dutchess County Jail by the Honorable Judge McLoughlin in lieu of $50,000 cash bail or $100,000 secure bond.
