COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) -
The woman badly injured in an accident with Mayor Steve Benjamin the morning after election night has died, according to her attorney.
Deborah Rubens, 63, died this morning in her home surrounded by family members after a battle with lung cancer, said Rick Detwiler.
Rubens was involved in a collision with Benjamin early on the morning of April 21, 2010. The city's newly-elected mayor was on his way to an interview only hours after winning the office when the crash happened.
She was leaving her job as a waitress at the Clarion Hotel on Gervais Street when Benjamin approached her around 5:40 a.m. without his lights on, according to a Columbia Police investigation.
Benjamin said as he left the Hilton Hotel that morning, he believed his headlights were on.
As he entered the intersection of Gervais and Pickens, Benjamin says he was not distracted and was driving at a "reasonable rate of speed" when he saw Rubens' car make a right turn.
Unable to move out of the way in time, Benjamin said he hit Rubens.
Rescue workers had to cut Rubens out of her car. She spent almost two months in the hospital recovering from a brain injury, a broken pelvis, a broken collarbone and a broken leg.
Benjamin paid an $87 traffic ticket for not having his lights on. Rubens was cited for driving without insurance.
The mayor later agreed to unspecified payments to Rubens. Documents stated that the factual circumstances surrounding the case remain in dispute, and Benjamin denies liability for Rubens' injuries.
Benjamin issued this statement Thursday afternoon:
"Deborah Rubens was a good lady and a great friend.
"I had the wonderful pleasure of spending her last birthday with Deborah, her family and friends and to witness firsthand the unconditional love, strength of faith and the importance of community in her life.
"When her family called last week to inform me that she'd taken a turn for the worse, our family went into immediate prayer and we remain there."
Copyright 2012 WIS. All rights reserved.
Deborah Rubens with her son, Tai Rubens (Source: Rick Detwiler)
