Washington, New York – On August 19, 2020, the New York State Police from the Poughkeepsie barracks in conjunction with the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office arrested James M. Ruiz, age 28, of Amenia, NY, for Vehicular Manslaughter in the 1^st degree, a class C felony, and Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated, an unclassified misdemeanor.

Following the fatal crash on January 8, 2020, on the Shunpike in the town of Washington, 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.

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.

Washington, New York – On January 8, 2020, the New York State Police from the Poughkeepsie barracks began investigating a fatal motor vehicle crash on the Shunpike in the town of Washington.

At approximately 11:20 p.m., 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.  Initial investigation shows James M. Ruiz, age 28, of Amenia, NY, was operating a Toyota sedan and went off the roadway for unknown reasons.  His passenger, Jeremy L. 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.

Amenia Fire Department, Millbrook Fire Department, and Northern Dutchess Paramedics, and the Troop K Collision Reconstruction Unit also responded to the scene to assist the victims.

The Shunpike was reopened at approximately 4:30 a.m. on January 9, 2020.

This investigation remains ongoing.