A tragic incident unfolded on Wednesday night in Miami-Dade when a traffic stop led to a fatal crash. According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, this event involved a wanted individual who attempted to escape from law enforcement.

At approximately 7:42 p.m., deputies initiated a stop on a vehicle driven by 21-year-old Luis Manuel Perez at the intersection of Northwest 51st Terrace and 33rd Avenue. During this engagement, authorities discovered Perez had an outstanding warrant.

Perez chose to flee the scene. As deputies initiated a search for his whereabouts, Perez found himself on a dead-end street. Attempting to evade, he ran a stop sign which resulted in a collision with another vehicle, causing it to overturn.

In the aftermath, the crash led to both vehicles making contact with an unmarked sheriff’s office vehicle. This vehicle was occupied by a deputy actively involved in the search for Perez.

The driver of the civilian vehicle was critically injured and transported by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue to Ryder Trauma Center. Unfortunately, the driver succumbed to their injuries at the hospital. The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office has withheld the driver’s identity.

Following the events, Perez was apprehended at Northwest 53rd Street and 33rd Avenue. Authorities brought him to a hospital for evaluation as detailed in his arrest affidavit. His legal proceedings are affected by a military hold, as noted in the affidavit.

Presently, the sheriff’s office’s Traffic Homicide unit is conducting an investigation into the crash. Updates to this report may occur as new information becomes available.

The original version of this report was published on September 3, 2026, at 9:23 AM.

MM Milena Malaver is a dedicated crime and breaking news reporter for the Miami Herald. A native of Miami-Dade, she boasts academic credentials from Florida International University and joined the Herald shortly after her graduation.