Amos Rutnik, 41, died Sunday following a car accident on Fish Bay Road, St. John. The single-vehicle accident happened around 9:45 p.m. Saturday on the last section of a switchback near the road to Ditliff Point.

According to Police Department spokesman Melody Rames, Rutnik was the driver. The car hit the hillside, overturned, and Rutnik was ejected through the front windshield of the Nissan SUV. Rutnik’s wife, Cindy Rutnik, told police that Rutnik was not wearing his seatbelt.

Cindy Rutnik was in the front passenger’s seat with another passenger in the back seat, a VIPD press release indicated. They were not ejected from the car but were transported to Myrah Keating Smith Community Health Center, where they were treated and released. Rutnik was moved to Roy L. Schneider Hospital on St. Thomas, where he later died.

Rames said the accident remains under investigation.

Rutnik was the owner of Artistic Landscaping in Fish Bay.

Amos Rutnik was born Aug. 17, 1970 at Knud Hansen Hospital on St. Thomas. He lived all his life on St. John. He attended Julius E. Sprauve School and All Saints School on St. Thomas before graduating from Christian Brothers Academy in Albany, N.Y.

After graduation from high school, he sailed with owners Peter and Dorothy Muilenburg; their children, Raffy and Diego; and a family friend, Alon Salant, aboard the Muilenburg’s sailboat Breath. They sailed up the Gambia River, along the coast of West Africa and back to the Virgin Islands.

“Amos was a great guy and good company,” Muilenburg said.

He talked about how fascinated Rutnik was with Gambia, and his delight as he learned about the region’s wildlife. And he recalled how Rutnik and the other youthful sailors played endless games of whist.

“There’d be uproarious laughter,” Muilenburg said.

Raffy Muilenburg, who also lives on St. John, talked about Rutnik’s spirit of adventure.

“Amos is someone who lived life to the fullest. He knew how to seize the day,” Raffy Muilenburg said.

However, he said that what made Rutnik shine was his kindness and personal warmth.

“I will greatly miss him. His being gone leaves a huge hole,” he said.

Rutnik subsequently attended Hillsborough Community College and University of Florida in Tampa, studying horticulture, water and irrigation management, and computer systems.

Rutnik’s sister, Ruby, died in a car crash 1996 in Washington, D.C. while attending American University. She was 21. Her family holds the annual Ruby Rutnik Memorial Softball Tournament to raise scholarship funds in her honor.

St. John resident Brenda Wallace said it was “unthinkable” that a family would have two children killed in car crashes.

“They are a family that’s very tight,” Wallace said.

Others expressed similar thoughts.

“We were heartbroken when Ruby died, but with the second child’s death, we
are all in shock,” St. John resident Radha Speer said.

St. Thomas resident Cheryl Miller, who lived many decades on St. John, called the accident “totally devastating.”

“It’s like tragedy on tragedy,” she said.

Wallace called Rutnik and his wife a very close couple.

“They were a true unit,” Wallace said.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, Cristian and Jessica, as well as his parents, Andy and Janet Cook-Rutnik. Andy Rutnik is a former Licensing commissioner. Cook-Rutnik is a well-known artist.

“We are sad beyond words but heartened by the incredible outpouring of love and support,” his mother wrote in an email.

He is also survived by his sister Sophie Rutnik, her partner, Brummell Germain, and his nephew Jameer Germain. All live on St. John. An aunt, Frances Rutnik, lives on St. Thomas.

Remembrances may be sent to [email protected] and donations may be made to St. John Rescue. Funeral arrangements are by Davis Funeral Home.