Broadway star Ruthie Ann Miles has welcomed a baby girl named Hope two years after losing two children in a tragic car accident. She shared the news in an Instagram post that was simply captioned, "3 generations of April Babies."
In 2018, Ruthie and her friend Lauren Lew were walking across the street with their children: 4-year-old Abigail Blumenstein and 1-year-old Joshua Lew. Ruthie was also pregnant with her second daughter, whom she planned to name Sophia. While they were crossing the street, a driver sped through a red light and hit the group. Abigail and Joshua both died, while Ruthie and Lauren were injured in the accident.
Ruthie later miscarried Sophia.
The horrific accident stunned onlookers, and EMTs reported, "Upon arrival, officers encountered two adult females and two children, a male and a female, on the pavement with various injuries to their heads and bodies. EMS also responded to the scene and removed all four pedestrians to Methodist Hospital where the children, a 4-year-old female and a 1-year-old male, were pronounced deceased. The females, a 34-year-old and 33-year-old, were listed in stable condition."
Authorities also said, "The preliminary investigation by the NYPD Highway District's Collision Investigation Squad determined that the 44-year-old female operator of a 2016 Volvo S60 sedan was traveling westbound on 9th Street when she failed to maintain control of the vehicle and struck the pedestrians. The vehicle continued forward and struck a parked and unoccupied car before coming to a stop. The operator was removed to NYU Langone Hospital in stable condition. There are no arrests and the investigation remains ongoing."
To add further tragedy to the situation, the driver of the car that hit Ruthie, Lauren, and their children later committed suicide. A note was found in her home that indicated she intentionally took her own life. She had previously been charged with manslaughter and assault.
In the months that followed, Ruthie Ann took time off from Broadway and performing to heal from the loss of her daughter. She updated her Twitter account with a note that read, "Thank you for your prayers over our families and holding us in our pain. We are extremely grateful for your kindness and generosity."
Ruthie Ann and her husband suffered the loss of their second child, Sophia, only two months later as Ruthie approached her due date. Her lawyer confirmed that Sophia died as a result of injuries that Ruthie Ann had sustained in the accident.
"As you might imagine, they are overwhelmed by the sadness of the deaths of their children." He also added that Ruthie Ann and her husband "wish and ask that their privacy be respected during this most trying time."
Ruthie Ann and her husband, Jonathan Blumenstein, announced that they were expecting their third child in March 2020. On Instagram and Twitter, she wrote, "We'd like to announce our very happy news: We are expecting another child this spring!"
She added, "Thank you especially to the many of you who supported us in the aftermath of the crash, continually lifted us up in prayer, doused us with Love, encouraged us, let us be & grieve these two years….and now rejoice with us in this new life. We know Abigail Joy and Sophia would have loved being big sisters & are loving watching their family grow."
Ruthie Ann has had a successful Broadway career and won a Tony Award in 2015 for her portrayal of Lady Thiang in The King and I. She reprised the role in 2018. She also starred in Sunday in the Park With George alongside Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford.
Her theater credits also include Here Lies Love, Love's Labour's Lost, Avenue Q, Band Geeks, and Two by Two. She also toured the United States as part of the casts of both Annie and Sweeney Todd. She has had numerous television roles and is currently part of the cast of All Rise on CBS.
