St. John businessman Amos Rutnik, the son of former V.I. Licensing and Consumer Affairs Commissioner Andy Rutnik and artist Janet Cook-Rutnik, of Fish Bay, was killed in a one-car accident close to his south shore home on Saturday, June 25 at about 9:45 p.m.
Rutnik, 41, was ejected from the vehicle he was driving when it overturned and died later at the Roy Lester Schneider Regional Hospital, according to a V.I. Police Department report.
Emergency Medical Technicians were already on the scene providing medical attention to the three occupants of the vehicle when V.I. Police were dispatched by 911 to the scene of the accident, according to the initial report.
Police spoke to the front seat passenger in the Nissan SUV, who was identified as Rutnik’s wife Cindy. Another passenger was in the rear seat.
Cindy Rutnik stated that her husband was driving and they were coming downhill and traveling “too fast”, according to police. She said her husband lost control of the vehicle near the entrance to Fish Bay and the vehicle ran into the hillside and overturned.
As the vehicle overturned the driver was ejected through the front windshield, according to the police report. The other two passengers were not ejected from the vehicle. Mrs. Rutnik told police her husband was not wearing a seat belt.
EMTs transported the three passengers to the Myrah Keating Smith Community Health Center. At about 10 a.m. Sunday, June 26 a medical doctor advised police that the driver died from his injuries at the Schneider Regional Hospital.
In addition to his wife Cindy, Amos leaves behind a son Christian; a daughter Jessica; his parents; his sister Sophie Rutnik; Sophie’s partner Brummell Germain; his nephew Jameer Germain; his aunt Frances Rutnik; and many friends. Amos was preceded in death by his sister Ruby Rutnik.
The accident is still being investigated by the Traffic Investigation Bureau.