License of driver who crashed into Gulf Stream cyclists remains suspended

The license of the driver who crashed into a group of nine cyclists on State Road A1A in Gulf Stream earlier this year was suspended at the time of the crash and remains suspended, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Betty Ann Ruiz, 77, of Lantana, was issued three non-criminal traffic citations in the Jan. 4 crash that injured most of the nine cyclists, several severely. The citations for failing to drive in a single lane; unknowingly operating a vehicle while license was suspended, revoked, canceled or disqualified; and failure to provide proof of insurance were dismissed on April 3, Palm Beach County court records show.

The citations were dismissed after Trooper Andy Ong, who was listed in the court docket as a witness and who responded to the crash scene, did not appear at the hearing last week, according to court records.

“Trooper Ong was excused from work on April 3rd,” FHP spokesperson Lt. Indiana Miranda said in an email Thursday. “Traffic violations are non-criminal citations. If victims or officer(s) are not present they may be dismissed or can be postponed to a later day when parties are present. That is the discretion of the traffic court magistrate.”

Miranda said the citations will not be reissued.

An FHP crash report from the day of the crash said Ruiz’s condition at the time of the crash was “seizure, epilepsy, blackout.” Miranda said it was ultimately determined that she failed to stay in her lane because she appeared to have fallen asleep or was fatigued, rather than having experienced a medical emergency.

“No medical information was supplemented to support a seizure or blackout,” Miranda said Thursday. “She also volunteered to blood draw and those results are pending, however a drug recognition expert did an evaluation the day of crash with zero results to confirm any kind of drug/alcohol use.”

The crash report indicated that Ruiz was required to take a driving reexamination.

Her license remained suspended Thursday, Miranda said.