Stripper Arrested in Hit-and-Run That Critically Injured Canadian Ultra Tourist

Early on Sunday morning, a blue BMW sped through a well-lit street corner near King of Diamonds, smashing into a young Canadian tourist in town for Ultra Music Fest and then speeding away as he fell critically injured to the pavement. Police now say that the driver behind the wheel...

By Tim Elfrink

March 31, 2015

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Early Sunday morning, a blue BMW sped past a well-lit street corner near King of Diamonds. The car smashed into a young Canadian tourist in town for Ultra Music Fest and took off as he fell to the pavement.

Police now say the driver behind the wheel was a dancer. After finding the damaged BMW at another strip club nearby, they arrested 26-year-old Olivia Bennett on two felony charges.

According to an arrest affidavit, 22-year-old Alexander Sanghwan, a college student who had traveled to Miami for the EDM festival, was walking away from King of Diamonds around 5:30 a.m. Sunday when the blue BMW 328i sped through the intersection of NW 178th Street and NW Fifth Avenue.

Several witnesses then watched the BMW travel east on NW Fifth Avenue without stopping.

Yesterday, police say they found the damaged car parked behind Tootsies, another strip club. Bennett later turned herself in at a Coconut Grove law office. (New Times has emailed her attorney for comment; we'll update this post if we hear back.)

After the crash, Saghwan was transported to Jackson Memorial's Ryder Trauma Center in critical condition.

Police have released few details about another young tourist attending Ultra: Shaun Cole, a 22-year-old Scottish soldier, was found dead in a pool of blood early Sunday near his motel at NE 81st Street and Biscayne Boulevard. Police yesterday called his death "unclassified."

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Tim Elfrink is a former investigative reporter and managing editor for Miami New Times. He has won the George Polk Award and was a finalist for the Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting.

Contact: Tim Elfrink

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Twitter: @timelfrinkmia