Guilty plea entered in scooter rider death on New Year’s

The man arrested and charged with DUI liquor causing the death of another, entered into a guilty plea agreement during his arraignment this month.

Rudy Eugene Ruiz, represented by defense attorney Harry Gensler, made his plea before Judge Kim Wanker.

The charge, a category “B” felony, is punishable by two to 20 years in prison.

During the hearing, Ruiz waived a formal reading of the state’s complaint.

Gensler noted that his defendant, since the arrest, has not received prescription medications at the Nye County Detention Center.

Nye County Chief Deputy District Attorney Kirk Vitto promised to follow up on the matter.

Ruiz was taken into custody on the morning of New Year’s Day after allegedly running a stop sign and striking the operator of a scooter, identified as Harold Douglas Strickland, at the intersection of Betty Avenue and Leslie Street.

Strickland, according to Nye County Sheriff’s deputies, had the right of way.

“The scooter rider did not survive the impact,” Fire Chief Scott Lewis said at the time. “The striking vehicle then rolled over, we believe, more than one rotation following the collision. We also had information suggesting that the driver may have self-extricated just prior to our arrival.”

Lewis said the driver of the car also sustained serious injuries as a result of the rollover.

“We also found significant injuries to the driver of the vehicle,” he said. “We brought Mercy Air 21 to the scene and that patient was transferred and transported to UMC Trauma in Las Vegas.”

Ruiz is scheduled for sentencing on July 29 at 9 a.m.

Contact reporter Selwyn Harris at sharris@pvtimes.com.