Amenia Man Indicted For Vehicular Manslaughter

WASHINGTON, NY — The driver involved in a fatal car crash in Dutchess County in January was accused of vehicular manslaughter Wednesday. The New York State Police arrested James M. Ruiz, 28, of Amenia, and charged him with first-degree vehicular manslaughter, a felony, and aggravated driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor.

Police said, following the crash which occurred Jan. 8 on the Shunpike in the town of Washington, the investigation by the state police and the Dutchess County District Attorney's Office produced an indictment for the arrest of Ruiz by a grand jury.

He was arraigned in the Dutchess County Supreme Court and sent to the Dutchess County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail or $100,000 bond.

On Jan. 8, around 11:20 p.m., troopers responded to the Shunpike between Route 44 and Kennels Road for a report of a car going off the road, into a tree and bursting into flames.

Ruiz, according to the police, was driving a Toyota sedan and, at the time, went off the road for unknown reasons.

His passenger, Jeremy L. Annis, 20, of Amenia, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Dutchess County Medical Examiner's Office.

Ruiz was airlifted to the Westchester Medical Center by Life Net Air2 in critical condition.

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