Portsmouth man indicted 2.5 years after hit-and-run that killed a pedestrian

The Portsmouth Police Department announced that a suspect has been indicted in connection with a hit and run incident in 2020 that left a pedestrian dead.

On Dec. 5, 2020 at approximately 5:54 p.m., the victim, a 70-year-old male from Portsmouth, was struck by a minivan traveling west on U.S. 52 (12th Street) in the left lane. The victim had entered the crosswalk, southbound, from the west Chillicothe Street sidewalk, crossing 12th Street.

While the westbound light was green, the victim was struck by the van, in the roadway, in a construction zone. The driver allegedly failed to stop and report his information after the crash.

Video of the incident was obtained and sent for testing. The victim eventually passed away Dec. 16, 2020 due to injuries sustained in the crash.

After several followup reports of possible suspects, over a two-year period, a subject came forth for interview, and a person of interest was named. The person of interest allegedly confessed to his involvement during the evening of Dec. 5, 2020. Further investigation was completed, and the minivan was tracked and had been salvaged approximately a year after the crash by the van’s owner.

On June 30, 2023, Rusty E. Rule, 41, of Portsmouth was indicted by a Scioto County grand jury for the following charges: three counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, one count of vehicular homicide and one count of failure to stop after an accident. The indictments were served to Rule on July 6 while he was in the Scioto County Jail on unrelated charges.

An indictment is merely a charge and is not evidence of guilt.

Thanks go out for the cooperation of multiple agencies, including the Ohio Investigative Unit, the Scioto County Sheriff’s Department Investigative Unit, Ohio BMV Investigations, Ohio Organized Crime Unit and the Ohio State Highway Patrol, all of which helped in the pursuit of the suspect.

Anyone who may have further information is asked to contact Sgt. Rob Davis of the Portsmouth Police Department at (740) 353-4101.