It was around 10:30 p.m. on the evening of November 8 when 54-year-old Nelly Ruiz, a longtime Stamford resident known for her warmth and friendly spirit, was struck while attempting to cross Southbound lanes of High Ridge Road near the 900-block. According to the Stamford Police Department, a 2016 Nissan Altima, driven by a 30-year-old local man, collided with Ruiz as she walked westward across the road.
First responders rapidly arrived at the scene and transported Ruiz to Stamford Hospital with critical, life-threatening injuries. In the early hours of November 9, despite extensive medical efforts, she was pronounced deceased. The driver remained at the scene and has been cooperating with investigators throughout.
Investigators from the police department’s Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Squad said the area where Ruiz was crossing lacked a marked crosswalk — a detail that may be central to understanding how the tragedy happened. Key factors under review include road lighting, vehicle speed, environmental conditions and available surveillance or witness statements.
Ruiz’s passing has left a tangible sense of loss throughout the Stamford community. Neighbors recall her as someone who radiated kindness and made a point of making others feel seen. The suddenness of her death has brought into sharp relief long-standing concerns about pedestrian safety along busy stretches like this one on High Ridge Road — especially at night when lighting is limited and no formal crosswalks exist.
In the wake of her death, both municipal officials and local safety advocates are urging renewed efforts to upgrade pedestrian infrastructure: adding marked crosswalks, improving nighttime lighting, and enforcing traffic laws more strictly to protect every person who uses the roadway, whether behind the wheel or on foot. Ruiz’s death is being cited as a clarion call for action before another life is lost.
Police are asking anyone who witnessed the crash or who might have video footage of the scene to contact the Stamford Police Department’s Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Squad at 203-977-4712. Officials say even the smallest detail could be vital in piecing together why this tragedy occurred and preventing future ones.
As the investigation continues, the community mourns the loss of Nelly Ruiz — a vibrant individual whose legacy of kindness now lives on in the hope that her passing spurs meaningful change in how the city safeguards its most vulnerable road-users.
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