Nearly three months after an 18-year-old woman was killed when she was launched into a canal during a motorcycle crash in northwest Miami-Dade, the man who authorities said was driving the bike has been arrested.
Ivan J. Leal Ayola, 24, was arrested Wednesday on a charge of vehicular homicide in a reckless manner, Miami-Dade jail records showed.
Miami-Dade Corrections
Miami-Dade Corrections
Ivan J. Leal Ayola
The arrest is related to the Sept. 14 death of 18-year-old Angelina Plasencia, whose body was found in the canal after a series of crashes.
Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office detectives believe the incident began with a crash involving two cars at Northwest 74th Avenue and Northwest 58th Street.
One of the occupants exited to check on the driver of the other vehicle, while the remaining passengers fled the scene of the crash in the vehicle, authorities said.
A short time later, the same vehicle was involved in a second crash on the northbound ramp of the Palmetto Expressway at Northwest 58th Street.
After the crash, the occupants abandoned the vehicle, fled on foot, and arranged to be picked up by a friend who was riding a motorcycle, authorities said.
Angelina Plasencia missing flyer
According to an arrest report, Doral Police officers spotted the motorcycle, which had a Florida tag that wasn’t assigned to it and matched the description of a motorcycle involved in a hit-and-run, with the driver and three female passengers.
The officers tried to stop the motorcycle but the driver, Leal Ayola, refused to stop and started speeding away, running a red light, the report said.
The motorcycle was involved in a crash at Northwest 72nd Avenue and Northwest 58th Street, ejecting all four occupants, officials said.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews responded and transported Leal Ayola and two females in critical condition to a local hospital.
The fourth passenger of the motorcycle, Plasencia, was launched into a canal, the report said.
Authorities searched the area but Plasencia’s body wasn’t found until the next day. Plasencia’s family had been desperately trying to find her and had posted missing person flyers on social media offering a $50,000 reward for her safe return.
NBC6
NBC6
A missing flyer for Angelina Plasencia posted in northwest Miami-Dade.
Leal Ayola was booked into jail and appeared before a judge on Thursday, who set his bond at $15,000 and ordered him not to drive and to surrender his passport or travel documents.