Girl, 4, Dies In Washington Co. Crash

February 5, 2011 11:15 PM

(Photo Credit: KDKA)

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Local, News

ROBINSON TOWNSHIP (KDKA) – A Washington County crash claimed the life of a 4-year-old girl Friday night.

According to police, the accident happened on Route 22 at the Bavington Exit in Robinson Township around 11:50 p.m.

Jennifer Ruttinger, 32, lost control of her 2003 Ford Explorer causing it to flip several times. She was transported to Allegheny General Hospital with major injuries.

Rylie Ruttinger, 4, was ejected from the vehicle. She was taken to Children’s Hospital and was pronounced dead around 1:30 a.m.

A 6-year-old girl was also inside the vehicle and suffered moderate injuries. She was also taken to Children’s Hospital.

Both children were in child safety seats.

According to a press release from the Pennsylvania State Police, the accident has been classified as a DUI. The crash investigation is still ongoing, but charges are pending.

“We think that alcohol might have been involved,” said Trooper Robin Mungo, of the Pennsylvania State Police. “We’re pretty sure that alcohol was involved.”

The Washington County District Attorney will decide what charges will be filed.

The westbound lanes were reopened around 4:30 a.m.

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Ace Slick

The other news site state that “this appears to be DUI”.

Dave

I certainly hope that’s not the case. It’s sad enough that a 4yo lost her life. I hope it was just an accident and not DUI negligence….

vincy

as per the first responders i talkeshe was definitel dui.

liz

If this is a DUI I assure you the woman driving the car will not be spared and I hope she is not. What the Hell is wrong with people. She will live with her demons and should. Shame on her…Hope she gets put sway for life….Alcohol kills families and in this beautiful a little angel…

AS

I am disgusted with all the people who are writing such hateful comments about this woman! Do any of you have half a brain?…do you not realize that there are 2 surviving children and one of which is a young teenager? I am sure she will find this article and read some of these horrible comments. How do you think she will feel reading that all these people want her mother to die and be tortured for the rest of her life? No matter what happened that woman is her mother whom she loves dearly! How about some of you read your comments again, but instead of it being about someone you don’t even know think that it is someone else saying those EXACT words about YOUR mother! Does it make you feel good knowing that YOUR words will hurt this young girl beyond belief?! Her mother made a horrible choice that resulted in a tragic accident, there is no denying it, but who gives anyone the right to say such horrible things about someone you don’t know. What gives you the right to hurt a family that is already in so much pain?! The sad thing is you won’t even care that you have hurt anyone else with your words…I pray the two girls never read this crao
taylor

wow i know jen and she is never like that she loves her daughters and would never do ANYTHING to hurt them! so all you people you can just stop! so just shut up
Pop

Do you even know this family!? Youll die with your demons in HELL!

gordie macIvor

things happen for a reason,and the majority of times it’s beyond comprehension,but this is a fact;God has called Riley to come home.He needs her,and her smile to brighten this dark world.

Dave

Are you kidding me?? A supposedly all-powerful diety NEEDS THE SMILE OF A CHILD – a dead one, at that – to “brighten this dark world.” How on earth does that work? When a god is morose, he just kills some kids to cheer himself up? That is a disgusting sentiment, and the lack of rational thought behind it is just sad.

Brittany Hovancik

People have their belifes. Most of the time it’s just to help deal with really bad things. Riley was such a cute little girl and everyone should just remember her that way.

JIm

You my friend are a wacko.

Brittany Hovancik

“You my friend are crazy and just plain old rude for saying that.”

Angel

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends. If you don’t have nothing nice to say, then say nothing at all!!!!!!
Eddie Yount

what is she doing out at 130 am with 2 kids anyway?
RT

Hello the accident happened at 11:50 not 1:30 and does it really matter the time. Its a shame the comments some of you leave when an innocent little girl lost her life. My thoughts and prayer go out to the family.
Heavy heart

There were a lot of people helping. I pray the mom and other baby are ok! I pray god embraces this family!

falcon

i was also there an image i will never forget my prayers are out there for Rylie and the family. Also thanks to the other lady (Heavy heart) who was there with me God Bless You
choose real life not fiction

how about instead of praying to a fictional being….PERSONALLY go and help stop these kinds of accidents from happening in any way one can, instead of going to a church and praying ( doing nothing).

Schaeffmama

I guess you’ve never had a tragic moment and said “Oh my God!”

This country was founded on Christian principles. I’ve fought defending these Christian principles. If you don’t like “In God we trust”, then leave. You won’t be missed.

In times of strife, people need something to believe in. If you believe there’s a way to prevent every tragedy, then lead the way. Prove to me through your scientific ways that you can stop all accidents from happening. In the meantime, I’ll continue to keep my faith and instill morals into my children and pray for this family.
agreeing

its very close actually. a system is being devloped right now that detects blood alchohol levels through door handle and steering wheel sensors. so yes ill look to science first.
Schaeffmama

Drive on with your science. But, think they’ll ever come up with a texting while driving pre test for drivers? Some sort of fingerprint assumption that the driver wil be texting while driving? Because, that is the up and coming major cause of fatal accidents. Then what? How is science going to prevent those accidents?

Science is limited. Faith is not.
Daniel

Actually faith is simply a belief. Reason is a fact.
here you go again.

they are developing that now also, it uses gps to guage how fast the phone is going and turns off certain features such as texting but enables hand free calling. just a FACT. its in its begining stages but looks promising. look it up online.
to schaeffmama

sounds like you would be better off living in the 1500 to 1700′s
Jeff

Wow! Just when I thought the comments on here could not possibly get any DUMBER! I guess they invented cell phones in the early 1800s. You are such an idiot.
to jeff

hey moron jeff. it was regarding her old age thinking not about cell phones…read before you comment idiot.
Jeff

I did read it dummy. I bet youre one of the idiots that text when you drive huh. Maybe if more of you punk kids would think like the so called old age thinkers this country would be much better off.
FixPGH

Jeff, I have seen MANY older and even elderly people text/talking while driving. Worse than anything it’s new technology to them so they are not as savvy with it and are even more prone to not pay attention to the road because they have to think real hard to figure the gadget out.
Jeff

Well hey, Knock yourself out and text away. Ill be sure to read about you in the paper.
to jeff again

you cant be more wrong. im in the ems and fire side of this. safety all the way jeff. i embrace new age tech and thinking but alos listento the sane old age ideas.
Jeff

Please learn to spell before replying to my comment. So you are saying its safe to text and drive at the same time. Well if thats how you think and others think the same way, then being you are such a treasure to the community because you are in the ems and fire side as you put it, then you are going to have your work cut out for you because if people are that STUPID to text and drive they deserve to wreck. Its just a shame that they will injure someone who actually is trying to keep their eyes and attention on the road. Case closed!
to jeffy poo

YOURE AMAZING JEFF YOU SEEM TO HAVE A ONE TRACK MIND BUD. BEING ON THE FIRE AND EMS SIDE. I EMBRACE NEW AGE TECH AND SAFETY. MEANING I DONT TEXT N DRIVE! read the above posts and you will see mine where it says theres devices in the works that will use gps to shut off texting capabilities and limit phone use to hands free calling. btu snice yuo aer so woreed abot my speling, heer ya go
TO FIRE SIDE

For someone who is in such a profession, you shore are childish. You are just another one who could never survive without the technology and I do see the sarcasm with the way you spell and hopefully you don’t treat your patients that way. I can see they picked the right person for the job. Grow up.
FixPGH

Haha commenter “TO FIRE SIDE:” Don’t talk about spelling when you are making “sure” into “shore.”
To firefly

Ok. Since you are not to quick and kind of slow, I’ll try again, but this time I will type it so even you will understand it,ok? I hop mi spewling abuv helps mak it ezer to reed and understand. Meening I spewled sure wich is tha praper way to spewl the wird, but I yuzed shore so you coold understand it. I gess yu ar not very quik to pik up on sarkazm. I guess I’m having a battle of wits with an unarmed person. I really shooldnt be making fun of an uneducated purson.
To FixPGH

This comment above is for you too dip.
to fire side

I hope my spelling above helps makes it easier to read and understand. Have a great day fire fly.
NotJeff

Twice you typed “its” when the word is “it’s”. If you’re going to start your comment with “learn to spell”….well really, then you should learn to spell. Yes, I make typos as well…but I’m not dumb enough to do it while calling others out.
FixPGH

Science can’t stop accidents – WE have to stop accidents. WE have to STOP texting while driving, not become better at it.
Daniel

Just a note here, you can worship God without being a Christian or going to church and giving your money to a preacher. And quite a few of our Founding Fathers were not Christian….nor Muslim or Jewish.
The Real Thing

Atheists do not have a clue! Fictional being? Is GOD the same as the tooth fairy? The MAJORITY of people with Faith throughout the world (not just Christians) believe in a higher power. YOU who can sit and mock GOD, are in the EXTREME majority. (Which usually means you are an outcast and a weirdo). Only the non-believers are lost, wandering through a sea of hopelessness trying to understand how people (such as this devestated family) can pull through a tragic event like this. It’s due to their faith. I hope GOD is watching over this family, and providing some sort of comfort. I can’t imagine what the father of these kids is going through. We should all pray for them. (And we should pray for the non-believers to go to church, or read a bible, and learn something!)
Daniel

Please look up the difference of being an Atheist and being a Deist. Two totally different things. We Deists do believe in God, we simply know that no one truly knows who God is or what God is. We reject organized religion, not God. And we respect others right to worship as they choose as others should respect ours. Thomas Paine and Thomas Jefferson were Deists.
lovesorchids

Whoah….good luck with that outlook. You know, faith, meditation, prayer, whatever you want to call it, has gotten a lot of people through a lot of horrific things in life. Families, cities, countries, have pulled together and rebuilt through terrible times by pulling together and ‘doing nothing’, as you say. You can believe (or not believe) in whatever you want, Buddy, but a little tolerance goes a long way.

Judy

Such a sad tragedy for this family, No finger pointing or accusing, please take that time to pray for the mother and the other daughter, they need our prayers right now. For you Heavy Heart, Bless you for being there for them at their time of need.Also, there may be a time where you may need counseling, get it. May God be with them during their time of healing and recovery. God Bless them and the family.
Bea

The State Police are reporting alcohol definitely played a role in this accident. As tragic as it is, don’t down play it. If it stops the next mother, father, whoever, from driving their children when drinking, knowing this outcome, or they wake up this morning & think it could have been them, it will at least mean something. No one thinks it will happen to them, but this shows it can.
castnbash

R.I.P. thoughts and prayers to the family
erica

Who in the hell drives drunk with their children???As tragic as it is,a responsible 32 year old mother wouldn’t do that.It was a preventable accident,so I guess that makes it karma.This “parent” needs a 12 step program.Hopefully losing her child will put some things in perspective for her.

Michelle

Shame on you! WHO are you to judge anyone! Do you have any COMPASSION? I am amazed and outraged… My prayers go out to EVERYONE in this family. They need everyone’s prayers. God please help them!

Jon

Hey Michelle, can I ask what you think “God” will do to help this family??
Brittany Hovancik

Hey Jon, peole have their belifes and if they think god is going to help then god is going to help.
a

No one is judging, the Plain Truth is she was DUI with kids in her car. Thoughts and prayers and other “warm fuzzies” may make YOU feel better, but unless this mom wants have her other taken away, she seriously needs to address her problem and go through rehab, not prayer group. Yes, her drinking is a serious problem if she HAS to drink while her children are in her care.

a

I AGREE

Dub

Hey Jon, as you say “God” well he will embrace this family for getting through the hard times and showing they can rise above all the low lifes like you, who wouldnt be able to handle this kind of situation!

AS

I am disgusted with all the people who are writing such hateful comments about this woman! Do any of you have half a brain?…do you not realize that there are 2 surviving children and one of which is a young teenager? I am sure she will find this article and read some of these horrible comments. How do you think she will feel reading that all these people want her mother to die and be tortured for the rest of her life? No matter what happened that woman is her mother whom she loves dearly! How about some of you read your comments again, but instead of it being about someone you don’t even know think that it is someone else saying those EXACT words about YOUR mother! Does it make you feel good knowing that YOUR words will hurt this young girl beyond belief?! Her mother made a horrible choice that resulted in a tragic accident, there is no denying it, but who gives anyone the right to say such horrible things about someone you don’t know. What gives you the right to hurt a family that is already in so much pain?! The sad thing is that most of you won’t even care that you have hurt anyone else with your words…I hope the children never read your comment

Dan

I am sure she will also read the obituary of her sister. How do you think she will feel reading that?

Shields188

Why would you assume that this was a DUI? What if the parent worked a 16 or 24 hour shift at a nursing home or a EMS agency? The evidence in sleep deprived ppl are that of a person who has consumed a couple of drinks. O r maybe she was taking and over the counter med to combat the common cold.
I am not sure what happened because I was not there but it is sad for all involved.

lovesorchids

No one is ASSUMING it was a DUI–the State Police press release states it in the story above.

And yes, it is VERY sad.

Andrea Burns

Rylie was a precious little girl..This is so very sad.
erica

Since she’s facing DUI and homicide charges one would assume she was driving drunk or high………

Michelle

Hey ERICA…how about keeping your comments to yourself! The rest of us who have compassion and do not need to judge others are tired of hearing from you….we rather FOCUS our energies on prayers!!!! As I said Shame on you!

Darby

I understand in every “NEWS STORY” they try to bring out the GARBAGE on each person to get ppl to read it but….. this is truly going to hurt alot of people ! Try to understand she was someones daughter, grand-daughter, and will be loved and missed by all involved. What-ever happened, pray for the family, and let GOD handle the rest !!! Good – bye Rylie and GOD BLESS YOUR FAMILY !!!
Daniel

If this is a DUI lock her up for life!
Darby

WHY DON’T YOU NON-CARING IDOTS KEEP YOUR WANNA BE COMMETS TO YOURSELF !!! YOU MUST HAVE A PRETTY BAD LIFE OR YOU WOULD NOT BE SITTING THERE BASHING OTHER PEOPLE WHO JUST HAD THEIR LIFE TORN TO PEICES !!! GROW UP AND TRY TO PUT SOME LOVE IN YOUR HEART FOR A FAMILY WHO IS IN NEED OF PRAYERS AND SUPPORT !!!!!!!!!

jim

Spell check is your friend.

Daniel

I only know what I read, but if this is a case of DUI then this woman killed her child. That is a simple fact
Lisa M. White

please get some counseling! I don’t know you, but I’m worried about your wellbeing too after witnessing this. God bless you for helping
Darby

Do you think your comments stop the ‘drinking noooo ‘, how about the ‘drugs ‘noooo soo …why have fun degrading someone else who is hurting ? If this is a dui related case are you the JUDGE nooo so why not just pray for her and her family? Go to school, get the degree pass your boards THEN YOU MAY PASS JUDGEMENT on someone else.
bettygerbil

as being a member of my family my brother was killed by a drunk driver 12 -6 -09 still no trial yet but this man is looking at 2 years top for killing my brother maybe with the super bowl partys tomorrow people should think about this story and be a little more careful driving tomorrow or have other people to drive them as a sober driver . if the mother was drunk she will pay dearly by god and her mental problems this 4 year old was called to do something greater for the power of god that knows why these things happen the whole family and bystanders will need help to deal with this tragic accident as all my family have had to do with losing my brother and my only sibling . think before you drink this could easily be u or one of your family members mother father brother sister child wife husband

Michelle

God Bless you and your family Betty…Prayers are with you!

CONSEQUENCES

We the people are the backbone of all laws and we do take exception to criminal acts that lead to someone’s death. You all would pass judgement if a career criminal drove drunk and hit a 4 year old girl. This mother should not get a “pass”. Her family and friends can still love her and even forgive her. As an outsider, an american observer, I think that this was a tragedy that could have been prevented and the actor is a criminal. She may be someones daughter or friend and she may even be a great person, but she made a horrible mistake, one that has both legal and social consequences. People should be outgraged and angry. i would be more concerned if they were not. Her family and friends need to accept that the mother if “drunk” is a criminal and is responsible for this act. I do feel for all. Obviously there are many victims in these cases.

If you find these comments as degrading to the mother then please leave a comment. Degrading? Please accept the truth. . . it hurts sometimes. There are many parents that have headed home after having a couple of drinks. . . maybe we all should think twice.
Jennifer

Everyone, this little girl who lost her life was a child my sister tracy has baby sat since her and her older sister (the one who is in critical condition) were babys. My sister is devestated and by the side of the other little girl who is on Childrens Hosp. These two girls were part of our family since they were born and like my sisters own children..Please pray for Harley to get better and for my sister who I know will be by her side till she is well Thank you and God Bless

allison

I am so sorry for your loss. I have tears in my eyes as i write this and I dont even know any of you. I have 3 and 6 year old little girls and cant imagine if one lost the other. I will pray for your family for little ‘Harley and her moomy too.
Erin Taylor

jennifer i love your commment the most its so right and i love thoses girls harley and riley.

2-4-11
forever <3 riley<3

brent

DUI i bet
Daniel

Yea, let’s pray that God embraces the other child and pray that the arms of a prison embrace the Mother when she recovers.

God Bless

May you be blessed that you stay as perfect as you are, life stays so simple for you and that you may judge people always! Oh yes, God will embrace Riley already has… hope that he will embrace you with the ability to forgive and only judge yourself! AMEN!

Brittany Hovancik

I AGREE. No one is perfuct people make mistakes but Jen was always a good mother to her kids and still will be for her other two daughters.

erica

Good parents that love,cherish and protect,parents that care about children that are not their own,parents that do everything in the best interest of their children are allowed to judge a woman like this.She murdered her own daughter with a 2 ton weapon when she decided to get behind the wheel intoxicated.This is just another disgusting case of child abuse like we hear about everyday.I can lay my head down at night knowing that I didn’t murder my child because of my poor decisions.I think her guilt may be justification enough.

God Bless

May you be blessed that you stay as perfect as you are, life stays so simple for you and that you may judge people always! Oh yes, God will embrace Riley already has… hope that he will embrace you with the ability to forgive and only judge yourself! AMEN
Jon

Erica, I am glad to see someone in here with common sense..Everything you say is 100% true, she is a murderer, plain and simple..Why people cant comprehend this is beyond me…Kids are supposed to be protected by their parents not murdered…But you have all the religious wackos in here asking for prayer, like that is going to do any good.

Daniel

I 100% agree with Jon. All the prayer on Earth will not bring this child back. The only thing that can prevent accidents like this would be to not drink in the first place. There is a darn good reason as to why several of this country’s founding Fathers practiced Deism. Have a great day….
Jeff

Have you ever driven drunk? Im not talkin smashed drunk, Im talkin a few beers with a .08 BAC or more. If you have or anyone else has on here You are all hypocrites. I guess its ok to drive drunk if you dont have a child in the car. Doesnt matter if theres a child in the car or not, nobody should drive wil DUI and those on here who have and put accusing comments on here should really look at themselves. Its not ok to do just because you havent gotten caught or killed anyone.
Brittany Hovancik

NO all the pryers couldn’t bring back Riley. But they could help the other family members get through this.
Dub

Isnt a murder someone who does it on purpose and plans for this type of thing to happen? i think all of you should mind your own business and if your going to do anything, anything at all you should pray for this family. I hope all of you feel awful for your hateful comments. there is a teenager out there 14 years of age thatt will see all of these comments and feel so much hatred towards you! so shame on all of you. rylie would be so ashamed that people are hating her mother so much!