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 woman from Florida is in prison after allegedly hitting a pedestrian with her car and driving away. She then allegedly downplayed the incident by saying the victim was just a homeless person.
Ivana Gomez, 32, is accused of leaving the scene of the accident, which led to the death of the pedestrian, and resisting arrest without using violence. She is currently held at Miami-Dade County jail on a bond of $251,500.
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According to court documents, the incident took place at approximately 1:15 a.m. on Friday in the Little Havana area of Miami. The victim, identified as Katherine Kipnis, 41, was reportedly struck by Gomez’s BMW with such force that their head went through the windshield, and some of their hair was left tangled in the passenger’s seat belt, as stated by prosecutors during a bond hearing on Saturday.
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.”
