Two people are dead, including a pregnant woman, after the elderly father of a well-known salsa star lost control of his car and crashed into a Miami beauty salon Tuesday afternoon.
"Today is a sad day for all of my family and me," said singer Rey Ruiz in a statement. "I feel an immense pain for two reasons: because people lost their lives, and members of my family are involved in this tragic accident."
Police say preliminary reports indicate Pedro Ruiz accidentally hit the accelerator of his SUV, sending the vehicle barreling into the storefront of Celeste & Co. Boutique on SW 42nd St. around noon.
A 33-year-old pregnant woman was transported to Kendall Regional Medical Center, where doctors tried to save her unborn child, but efforts were unsuccessful. She was six months pregnant, police said.
The other victim, a customer of the salon in her late 20s, was killed instantly.
"I know that at such a painful moment, words are not enough, but I want to express on behalf of my family, my parents, and myself, from the bottom of our hearts, our deepest and sincere condolences to the familes of these people who accidentally lost their lives today," Ruiz said in the statement, released Tuesday evening.
Police said the elder Ruiz suffered minor injuries and a female passenger was unharmed.
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No charges have been filed in the incident.
