Left: Katherine Kipnis (Miami-Dade County jail). Right: BMW used in fatal hit-and-run crash (Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office via WPLG).
A Florida woman is behind bars after cops say she fatally struck a pedestrian before driving away and then tried to minimize her actions by saying the victim was “just a homeless person.”
Court records show Ivana Gomez, 32, is facing charges of leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death and resisting an officer without violence. She’s at the Miami-Dade County jail on a $251,500 bond.
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Citing a probable cause arrest affidavit, local media outlets report that the accident occurred around 1:15 a.m. Friday in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood. The victim was identified as 41-year-old Katherine Kipnis. Prosecutors said at a bond hearing on Saturday that Gomez’s BMW “hit the victim so hard that the victim’s head went into the vehicle, through the windshield, and some of the victim’s hair got caught on the passenger’s seat belt.”
A police officer witnessed the crash and tried to stop Gomez but she didn’t stop, the affidavit reportedly said. She allegedly kept driving until she was slowed by traffic. When the cop caught up to her, he could smell alcohol coming from her breath and noticed she had bloodshot eyes. There was also vomit in the passenger seat, the affidavit reportedly said.
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She declined to complete a sobriety test and requested to speak to an attorney.
The judge reportedly noted in the bond hearing that Gomez allegedly said it was “just a homeless person that I hit” and “it’s just an accident.”
Gomez denied making the statement.
“Your Honor, I never said that,” she reportedly said. “I did not say that whatsoever. That’s false.”
Kipnis’ cousin spoke during the hearing.
“I just want Your Honor to be aware of what a shining light has been taken out of this world by the incredible irresponsibility of this defendant,” Rachel Kipnis said.
The victim’s father spoke with local ABC affiliate WPLG on Friday.
“My daughter was vivacious, lovable. Everyone really liked her. She was tough, but in a good way,” he told the outlet. “I just think back, I spoke to her last night at 6 o’clock when she told me, ‘I love you, Dad.’ That’s the last thing she said to me.”
Prosecutors say Gomez could face additional charges including vehicular homicide after further investigation.
