A man has been arrested in connection to a hit-and-run crash at a Liberty City bus stop that resulted in the death of one woman and left four other individuals hospitalized. Miami police identified the suspect as 53-year-old Ivan Maurice Houston, whose apprehension was reported yesterday, following the incident last month at the intersection of Northwest 17th Avenue and 54th Street.
Investigators stated Houston was driving a black Mercedes-Benz that jumped the curb, struck a bus stop, and flipped onto its side. According to WSVN, the collision was captured on surveillance footage and showed Houston abandoning the vehicle after the crash and fleeing on foot. The police mentioned, "This person didn’t do the right thing," as relayed by Miami Police Capt. Freddie Cruz.
The victim of the tragic incident was identified as 47-year-old Patricia Valencia, a mother and beloved family member. In the wake of her passing, her sister Katherine expressed the family's heartache to WSVN, saying, "No one should ever have to lose a family member. No parents should ever outlive their child." Valencia's family remembered her as "a wonderful mother, sister, daughter, friend," and she was laid to rest over the weekend. A GoFundMe page has been established to assist with expenses related to Valencia's untimely death, her family has informed.
Two of the four injured persons remain in critical condition at Jackson Memorial Hospital. NBC Miami reports jail records indicate Houston is facing multiple charges, including several counts of driving without a license causing death and serious injury. The arrest comes following a manhunt launched by the Miami police, who used surveillance footage from a nearby Chevron gas station to aid their investigation. This footage showed both the black Mercedes-Benz sedan involved in the crash and a white pickup truck that seemed to be moving in proximity before the deadly encounter occurred.
A witness, Diben Ramandiagl recounted the incident to Hoodline, saying "The car hit them and flipped over it, as you can see over there, and a lot of people called 911." Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers encouraged anyone with information on the case to come forward.
