Police Make Arrest In Miami Beach Hit And Run Involving Federal Agents
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MIAMI BEACH (CBSMiami) – Miami Beach police said they have arrested a person in connection to a hit-and-run accident early Friday morning that sent two federal agents to the hospital.
The news comes after police announced they had recovered a dark grey Mercedes Benz e350 believed to be involved in the incident.
Late Friday evening, CBS4 received an email from Homeland Security. It read:
"Two special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) were seriously injured in a hit-and-run incident Friday morning while on duty in Miami Beach, Fla. The Miami Beach Police Department is the lead agency investigating the incident; at this time no additional details are available due to the ongoing investigation."
Miami Beach Police have not released the identity of the person arrested, but they told CBS4 News that they questioned two people in connection with the crash, both of whom cooperated.
Police said the two agents were run down while trying to catch a cab around 2 a.m. at Española Way just north of 14th St. by the driver of a Mercedes Benz.
"Struck the two men who were waiting to get into that taxi. The vehicle actually jumped onto that curb and continued southbound on Collins Avenue after striking both victims," said Miami Beach Police officer Ernesto Rodriguez.
The men apparently had little time to react.
"I saw one person laying on the floor and I saw another guy was holding the side of his body," said Wolfky Jean, who wasn't far from the accident.
Witnesses told CBS4's Gabrielle Fleischman the men had just left Señor Frogs Restaurant and Bar and were standing on the edge of the road talking to the cab driver just before they were hit.
Paramedics rushed them to Jackson Memorial Hospital. One was listed in stable condition but the other remains in critical condition.
So far they have not been identified.
"It is terrible how somebody's life could change in a few seconds. People come to this area to have fun, enjoy life. Especially from out of town. For something like that to happen and someone leaving the scene, that's even worse," said Jean.
