Woman faces insurance fraud charges in crash

Mahoning Township Police say a woman falsely claimed she was behind the wheel during a crash in December, when witnesses said her husband was driving.

Jill Zmarzley and her husband, James Lee Ruff, are both facing charges resulting from a crash which occurred Dec. 20 around 7:45 a.m.

According to Mahoning Township Police, a gray Chevrolet SUV rear-ended a Jeep along North First Street (Route 209) near Center Street and left the scene.

Police said three witnesses identified Ruff as the driver of the vehicle. Ruff’s license was suspended at the time.

Later that day Zmarzley called Erie Insurance and filed an accident claim. In her claim, Zmarzley said she was driving the vehicle at the time of the crash. She stated she was going 25-30 mph when traffic stopped short and she rear-ended the vehicle.

Zmarzley said she was really shaken up and the vehicle she hit had left the scene, so she just went home.

A piece of the vehicle’s bumper was found at the crash scene. Mahoning Township Police went to Wentz Auto Body, where the vehicle had been taken, and matched the bumper.

A few weeks later, police contacted Zmarzley to interview her about the crash. She provided a written statement which said she was driving the vehicle.

Police then said there were witnesses who identified a male driver. Zmarzley said she was wearing a hat, and the front visor was down. Police said the witnesses identified Ruff as the driver.

Zmarzley then admitted that her husband was driving the vehicle. She said in a second statement that she was scared because the vehicle was in her husband’s name. She said Ruff told her he was in a crash.

Ruff was charged with leaving the scene of an accident. Zmarzley was charged with insurance fraud and making false statements.