ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) - A North Carolina woman whose racist rants and attack on a Black teenager and a woman in a hijab attracted international attention has died after she was struck by a fire department vehicle, according to police.
Rachel Dawn Ruit, 41, of Henderson County was mortally injured when she stepped in front of an Asheville Fire Department pickup truck on July 13, news outlets reported. Asheville Police Department spokeswoman Christina Hallingse confirmed that Ruit died on July 14.
Ruit, a white woman, drew attention after people posted cellphone videos showing her shouting racial epithets and making threats toward people on multiple occasions. On June 13, Ruit was captured on video screaming racial slurs at a family visiting from Charlotte for a birthday dinner. On July 1, she was recorded screaming at a young girl, using racist and sexually-explicit language.
Ruit was arrested July 4, accused of ripping off a Muslim woman’s religious garment and attacking a 14-year-old Black girl.
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