Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office

                                 25 Kirkpatrick Street, 3rd Floor, New Brunswick, New Jersey, 08901 (732) 745-3300

 

                                *News Release*          Date: November 24, 2009

 
 

 

 


South Amboy man arrested and charged in auto fatality

 

 

          Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce J. Kaplan and Perth Amboy Deputy Chief E.J. McDonald announced the arrest of a South Amboy motorist who was charged with vehicular homicide after striking a pedestrian this morning on Route 35 in Perth Amboy.

 

          Jonathan K. Ruck, (DOB 6/10/70) of South Amboy, was arrested and charged following the death of Pedro Gomez, a 37-year-old Perth Amboy resident who was struck as he was walking to work.

 

An investigation by Perth Amboy Police Officer Brandon Bucior and Investigator Jeffrey Temple of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office determined that Ruck was heading northbound on Route 35 when his sports utility vehicle jumped the curb, traveled on the sidewalk, and hit Gomez at 5:43 a.m.

 

Ruck’s vehicle, which was approaching the intersection at Sayre Avenue, subsequently hit a telephone pole.

 

Gomez was taken to Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy, where he was pronounced dead at 6:35 a.m. The results of an autopsy performed by the Middlesex County Medical Examiner’s Office were not immediately available.

 

Ruck, who sustained minor injuries, also was taken to the city hospital, where he was treated and released to police custody. Bail has not yet been set.

 

Ruck was charged after police determined he operated his vehicle recklessly while under the influence of drugs and/or extreme fatigue. The results of a blood test are expected next week.

 

Anyone with information is asked to call Investigator Temple at  (732) 745- 3373.

 

As is the case with all criminal defendants, the charge against Ruck is merely an accusation and he is innocent until proven guilty.