Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Broadway Actress Loses Baby Two Months After Driver Hit Her, Killed Her Daughter In Park Slope
By
Jen Chung
Published May 17, 2018
Modified May 17, 2018
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Abel Fermin/Variety/REX/Shutterstock
By
Jen Chung
Published May 17, 2018
Modified May 17, 2018
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The pregnant mother who was struck by an out-of-control driver—who also fatally struck her four-year-old daughter—has lost her baby.
On March 5th, Ruthie Ann Miles, a Tony-winning actress, was walking in Park Slope with her daughter Abigail, friend Lauren Lew, and Lew's 20-month-old son Joshua. At 12:41 p.m., driver Dorothy Bruns ran through a red light at 9th Street and 5th Avenue, killing Abigail and Joshua and injuring Miles and Lew.
Miles, who was seven months pregnant at the time, was in critical condition and in ICU. A lawyer for Miles and her husband Jonathan Blumenstein released a statement on Wednesday:
As many of you know, Ruthie and Jonathan’s daughter, Abigail, was tragically killed. At the time of the crash Ruthie was pregnant and was severely injured.
This past Friday Ruthie and Jonathan lost their baby, Sophia Rosemary Wong Blumenstein. The pain suffered by Ruthie and Jonathan is nearly impossible to fathom.
As you might imagine, they are overwhelmed by the sadness of the deaths of their children. Ruthie and Jonathan are grateful for the support of their family and friends but wish and ask that their privacy be respected during this most trying time. Ruthie and Jonathan continue to seek God’s presence, mercy and peace.
GoFundMe campaigns were created for both Miles and Lew.
Bruns had racked up numerous speeding tickets in two years before the crash. In September, she also struck a pedestrian in Long Island City, and the NYPD reportedly failed to investigate the incident.
Earlier this month, Bruns was charged with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez argued that Bruns's multiple sclerosis should have kept her from getting behind the wheel. "Her alleged insistence on driving despite doctor’s orders and serious medical conditions that prevented her from safely doing so was not only irresponsible, it was unlawful," Gonzalez said. "I intend to now hold her accountable and urge all drivers to heed instructions of medical professionals and never drive a car when told not to."
Tagged
criminally negligent homicide
dorothy bruns
fatal crash
manslaughter
park slope
ruthie ann miles
vision zero
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Queens man charged with hate crime at Jewish-owned bagel shop displaying Israeli flags
Prosecutors say the 22-year-old damaged property outside the Fresh Meadows shop twice in May.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 19, 2026 at 6:07 p.m. ET
MTA train yards are in such bad shape plants are growing out of the roof, watchdog says
In some cases, the damage was “clearly not recent."
By
Stephen Nessen
News
MTA train yards are in such bad shape plants are growing out of the roof, watchdog says
In some cases, the damage was “clearly not recent."
By
Stephen Nessen
High-ranking NYC officials to testify in ex-buildings boss Eric Ulrich's corruption trial
By
David Brand
Mamdani launches new team to help NYers keep SNAP, Medicaid benefits
By
Caroline Lewis
Riders at 53rd St. station where man was fatally shot say they worry about gun violence
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .