FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A Miami Heat dancer was killed Friday night when the motorcycle she was riding was struck by a car in Fort Lauderdale.
According to police, Nancy Lopez-Ruiz, 22, was traveling on Sunrise Boulevard when she was hit just before 10 p.m.
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Detectives said a 2009 Mercedes driven by Mario Careaga was traveling westbound on Sunrise Boulevard. As he approached the lane split and curve of North Federal Highway, he drove up onto the median.
He tried to get back into the westbound lanes and struck Lopez-Ruiz on her motorcycle, investigators said. She died at the scene.
A DUI investigation was initiated on Careaga.
Lopez-Ruiz recently auditioned to be a Heat. She would have danced with the squad during the upcoming 2010-2011 season.
The Miami Heat organization released a statement Saturday that said, "On behalf of The HEAT Group organization, we are shocked and saddened to learn of the tragic accident that took the life of Miami HEAT Dancer, Nancy Lopez-Ruiz. Nancy was a lovely young woman with an upbeat personality. Her fierce passion for dancing was contagious. We wish to extend our deepest condolences to her family, friends and teammates."