Ex-Modesto man again denied parole for causing deadly 1989 crash

A former Modesto man was denied parole this month for intentionally rear-ending another car, killing a woman and seriously injuring two of his family members in 1989, the District Attorney’s Office announced Monday.

David Paul Ruff was found unsuitable for parole at a State Board of Parole hearing in San Diego at which Senior Deputy District Attorney Michael D. Houston argued for Ruff’s continued confinement based on his lack of remorse and failure to take responsibility for his actions.

David Ruff and his brother, Troy, had been having “ongoing issues for several years” when David Ruff showed up at his brother’s home in November 1989, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

To avoid any problems, Troy Ruff told daughter Trina Ruff and girlfriend Mona D’Angelo to get in his car, and he drove them away from his home.

But Troy Ruff noticed his brother was following them in his truck and at one point saw David Ruff coming toward his vehicle without stopping or swerving to avoid them.

David Ruff eventually rear-ended his brother’s vehicle, causing it to spin out of control and crash into a power pole.

D’Angelo died of severe head injuries. Troy Ruff had a crushed right femur and needed to have a rod inserted in his leg. Trina Ruff suffered a fractured right femur.

David Ruff fled and was found a short time later in an abandoned house. His blood-alcohol content was 0.24percent, three times the legal limit.

The next year, Ruff was convicted of second-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon and two counts of attempted second-degree murder, both with enhancements for causing great bodily injury and use of a deadly weapon, as well as gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and hit and run causing injury and/or death.

On appeal, one of the attempted murder convictions was reversed by the 5th District Court of Appeal.

David Ruff was sentenced to 26 years to life in prison.

He previously was denied parole in 2007, 2011 and 2012. His next parole hearing is scheduled for 2018.

This story was originally published December 10, 2013 at 12:06 PM with the headline "Ex-Modesto man again denied parole for causing deadly 1989 crash."