Katherine Kipnis dies in fatal Miami hit-and-run crash
Katherine Kipnis dies in fatal Miami hit-and-run crash
Fatal Miami hit-and-run crash death of Katherine Kipnis – Obituary
A deadly hit-and-run incident in Miami’s Little Havana early Friday morning took the life of 41-year-old Katherine Kipnis, police confirmed.
The accident took place shortly before 1:15 a.m. near the intersection of Southwest 22nd Avenue and Seventh Street. Responding officers discovered Kipnis unresponsive after being struck by a car. Miami Fire Rescue pronounced her dead at the scene.
The suspected driver, 32-year-old Ivana Gomez of Miami, fled the location but was later arrested. According to the police, Gomez was behind the wheel of a blue 2019 BMW 330i, speeding west on Southwest Seventh Street when she was spotted by a patrol officer.
The officer attempted to pursue her, activating emergency lights and sirens. However, Gomez did not pull over and only came to a stop at a red light due to vehicles ahead of her.
As the officer approached her car, he detected a strong scent of alcohol on her breath. He also noted that her eyes were red and watery. The crash report detailed that the impact was so severe, strands of Kipnis’ hair were embedded in the windshield and also found on the passenger seat headrest. The BMW showed major damage to its front end.
Gomez reportedly declined to participate in a field sobriety test and asked for legal representation. At one point, she allegedly remarked, “It was just a homeless person that I hit and it is just an accident.”
Katherine Kipnis’ father, Daniel Kipnis, spoke with reporters and described his daughter as energetic, kind, and beloved. He shared that their final conversation was the night before when she told him, “I love you, Dad.”
Gomez faces charges including fleeing the scene of a crash involving a fatality and resisting an officer without violence. Additional charges related to DUI are pending the results of toxicology tests. She is currently being held at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center awaiting bond determination.