Roxborough man faces trial for crash deaths of two sisters crossing Boulevard

A Roxborough man accused of driving drunk and killing two sisters when he tried to run a traffic light on Roosevelt Boulevard waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday in Municipal Court.

The decision by Kenneth Ruch, 48, means his case will move directly to a Common Pleas Court trial in the Jan. 28 deaths of Kimberly Phillips, 19, and her 10-year-old sister, Loraya Braxton.

Ruch's attorney, Fortunato N. Perri Jr., said he waived the preliminary hearing because he was still investigating the circumstances involving the crash. Assistant District Attorney Thomas Lipscomb said the waiver was not the result of a plea offer from his office.

Ruch, who is free on $250,000 bail, is charged with two counts each of vehicular homicide and vehicular homicide while driving intoxicated, involuntary manslaughter and driving under the influence.

Police said Phillips, the mother of two young boys, and her sister were eastbound at 11:42 p.m., crossing the boulevard against the light in a crosswalk, to get to their home on Large Street.

Ruch, in a 2011 Jeep Wrangler, was traveling southbound, spotted the light change as he neared the Large Street intersection. Police said Ruch swerved to the left lane to beat the light and struck the sisters, throwing their bodies 150 to 200 feet.

Ruch continued driving but was stopped a short time later by police and taken into custody.