Driver identified in deadly Little Havana hit-and-run; victim mourned by neighbors
Miami police have identified the driver who struck and killed a pedestrian in Little Havana early Friday morning and fled the scene.
Authorities said 32-year-old Ivana Gomez was behind the wheel of a speeding vehicle that fatally hit 41-year-old Kathryn Carlin Kipnis, a woman who lived nearby, and never stopped to help.
"There is no sense of humanity"
"There is no sense of humanity. They didn't care. It's heartbreaking," said Mari Cardozo, who lives near the scene of the crash.
She and her neighbor, Anyeli Arango, say they often walk in the area of Southwest 7th Street and 21st Avenue, where the crash occurred just after 1 a.m.
"It's scary, knowing that people are driving at high velocity, and at one point it could be you just walking down the street," said Arango.
"That's terrifying. To be honest, you just come outside your house to take a nice little walk and boom, it could be your last," she added.
Officer witnessed the impact
According to Miami Police, Gomez was driving a blue 2019 BMW 330i westbound on SW 7th Street at a high speed. A nearby officer observed Gomez speeding past him near SW 16th Avenue. As the officer tried to catch up, he witnessed Gomez strike Kipnis with such force that a chunk of the victim's hair became embedded in the car's windshield and headrest. Kipnis died at the scene.
The officer immediately turned on his emergency lights and continued to follow Gomez. She was ultimately stopped at a red light at Beacom Boulevard, where her car — showing heavy front-end damage — was blocked in by traffic.
Signs of alcohol, refusal to cooperate
Police say Gomez smelled strongly of alcohol, had bloodshot, watery eyes, and failed an eye exam during field sobriety testing. She refused further testing and asked for a lawyer.
While sitting in the back of a police car, Gomez spontaneously told officers the victim was a "homeless person" and claimed it was "just an accident," according to arrest documents.
Despite her refusal, Miami Fire Rescue conducted two blood draws after police obtained a search warrant. During the second attempt, officers had to forcibly move Gomez into a fire rescue truck for the procedure. Authorities also noted what appeared to be fresh vomit inside her vehicle.
Facing charges, more possible pending results
Gomez is facing several charges, including leaving the scene of a crash involving death and resisting arrest without violence. Miami Police say more charges could follow, pending the results of her blood tests.
She was booked into Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, and the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office has been notified.
SW 7th Street was shut down for several blocks Friday morning as police and first responders investigated. CBS News Miami crews on the scene saw officers surrounding the area where the victim's body remained, and later observed Gomez receiving a medical exam two blocks from the crash site.
