Search fatalities

Julie Ruttkofsky

Age : 52

Gender : Female

Race : White

Date : 12/15/2022

Location : Whiteford Road and Whiteford Center Road

City : Whiteford Township

County : Monroe

State : Michigan

Agency : Michigan State Police

Officer(s) :Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Bystander killed by police chase crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

REASON FOR CHASE:
Bystander killed during police chase after domestic violence event.
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NARRATIVE:
On 12/15/2022, 52-year-old Julie Ruttkofsky of Adrian was killed when a pickup truck being pursued by Michigan State Police crashed into her SUV at Whiteford Road and Whiteford Center Road in Whiteford Township, Monroe County. Ruttkofsky was an uninvolved motorist.
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Michigan State Police had responded at approximately 2:57 p.m. to a domestic violence call in Bedford Township involving 46-year-old David White Jr. Police said White was driving erratically around the property and appeared highly intoxicated when troopers contacted him.
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White drove away from troopers in his pickup, and a Michigan State Police trooper pursued him. The pursuit continued into Whiteford Township.
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At Whiteford Road and Whiteford Center Road, police said White drove through a stop sign and directly into Ruttkofsky's vehicle. Contemporary reporting described the collision as occurring at approximately 4:15 p.m.
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The impact caused both vehicles to catch fire. Ruttkofsky and White were pronounced dead at the scene.
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Witnesses living near the intersection reported hearing police sirens immediately before the crash. One witness estimated that White was traveling over 80 mph when he entered the intersection, although that figure was a witness estimate rather than an official reconstruction finding.
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Ruttkofsky had no involvement in the domestic violence call or the police encounter. She was traveling through the intersection when the pursued pickup entered her path.

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SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2022/12/16/man-fleeing-police-runs-stop-sign-causes-crash-that-kills-himself-innocent-driver-in-monroe-county/
https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/double-fatal-crash-caused-by-domestic-violence-suspect-fleeing-from-police-in-monroe-county
https://www.wxyz.com/news/2-dead-after-police-chase-ends-in-crash-in-monroe-county