Tony Award winning Broadway star Ruthie Ann Miles was out for a walk in Brooklyn with her close friend - and fellow Broadway actress - Lauren Lew when tragedy struck. According to New York Daily News, an out of control driver blew through a red light and struck the two women and their children as they stood on a street corner. The car allegedly dragged one of the strollers more than 350 feet. Four-year-old Abigail Blumenstein - daughter of Miles - and one-year-old Joshua Lew were killed.
The wreck took place on the corner of Ninth street and Fifth Ave in the Park Slope around 12:40 p.m. Witnesses said Miles was pregnant and critically hurt, according to New York Daily News, and Lew was also injured. Both women are reportedly now in stable condition.
The driver was identified as 44-year-old Dorothy Bruns from Staten Island. Her car was reportedly cited four times over the course of the last two years for running red lights, speeding through a school zone four times in the last two years. Bruns attempted to flee the scene after hitting Miles, Lew, and their children. She crashed into parked cars a few blocks away after witnesses of the wreck attempted to stop her.
Mayor de Blasio - who is from Park Slope - made a statement about the terrible tragedy. âFor Chirlane and I obviously this is very personal. It occurred in our neighborhood, very, very close to our home," he said "This loss of life is tragic and painful for all of us, particularly those of us who are parents."
Mayor de Blasio went on to say that this accident is "another reminder of why we have to double our efforts on Vision Zero, to work for a day when this never happens to any family. This is an intersection that we happen to know very, very well. We have crossed it many times with Dante and Chiara when they were kids, so this is personal. And we are praying for the families who have gone through this tragedy and we will do everything we can to help them.â
Burns has not yet been charged with a crime following the accident on Monday. She was taken to NYU Langone Hospital - Brooklyn. New York Daily News reports that relatives are claiming she suffered a seizure while driving. Witness Jennifer MuĂąiz, 28, spoke about Burns reaction. âWhen they took her out, she was just standing there, like nothing,â she recalled. âNo emotion. Not sad. Not crying. Not asking questions: âIs everybody all right?â Not shaking. Nothing. She was texting on her cell phone like nothing happened. Like she had just parked the car.â
NYPDâs Highway Patrol is currently investigating the crash. In the meantime, the Broadway community is rallying around Lew and Miles. They've set up a GoFundMe to help raise money for medical and funeral costs for their children.