Son speaks out after mother hit, killed after pickup truck smashed into laundromat

NEWARK, New Jersey (WABC) -- A man is speaking out after his mother was killed when a pickup truck smashed into a laundromat in Newark on Monday.

New video was released of the suspected driver running off after the crash.

The impact also sent a parked car into the building.

Ruth Benjamin, 81, lost her life after she was walking along the sidewalk in the Ivy Hill Shopping Plaza when the out-of-control pickup truck hit her.

"My backbone. She was the backbone of the family. She cared about everybody. I wouldn't have this house without her," Ruth's son, Frenchie Benjamin, said.

A man who says he is friends with the driver of the pickup truck says they had been drinking in the parking lot before the suspect got into the truck and took off.

"My whole purpose was to be here for her and take care of her until whenever," Benjamin said.

Surveillance cameras captured the driver running away from the crash.

A witness said the truck had been speeding.

"It wasn't just the guy was drunk. He was speeding. I was a couple rows back and I was sitting in my car and I see this truck come flying out of nowhere," the witness said.

Regulars say as bad as the accident was, it could have been even worse.

"Normally, on weekends it's packed. You got people crossing the street, going to the liquor store, into Subway, going and getting their nails done, going to Dunkin Donuts. And usually at those tables, it's always full with families," one shopper said.

Several residents said police need to crack down on groups that they say constantly hang out in the parking lot, drinking.

"Yeah, every day. Even in the wintertime, they're out here drinking. They sit over there and drink," another shopper said.

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