MIAMI BEACH, FL. (THECOUNT) — Sarisa Kongduang and Greatgomon Laowatdhanasapya were killed Wednesday night after being struck by an allegedly impaired driver who told police he had closed his eyes and accelerated in an attempt to take his own life, according to the Miami Beach Police Department. The suspect, Adan Negron-Morris, 42, of Lakeland, Florida, was arrested at the scene and faces multiple felony charges.
Kongduang was 22 years of age. Laowatdhanasapya was 24 years of age.
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The fatal crash occurred at approximately 9:05 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at the intersection of Collins Avenue and 73rd Street in the North Beach section of Miami Beach, Florida.
According to Miami Beach Police, Negron-Morris was driving a black Nissan Sentra eastbound on 71st Street toward Collins Avenue without headlights and in a reckless manner when a Miami Beach officer conducting a high-visibility patrol in the area observed the vehicle and attempted to respond. Simultaneously, multiple 911 calls were received from witnesses reporting the driver’s erratic behavior. Negron-Morris turned north onto Collins Avenue and entered the intersection at 73rd Street, where Kongduang and Laowatdhanasapya were crossing the roadway.
The impact of the collision was catastrophic. Both pedestrians were launched into the air and suffered serious bodily injuries, landing on the roadway several feet from the point of impact, according to the police report. The hood of the Nissan Sentra was bent upward into the front windshield from the force of the collision. The vehicle continued until it became disabled near 74th Street, at which point Negron-Morris fled on foot into a nearby Walgreens at 7340 Collins Avenue. A witness followed Negron-Morris into the store, detained him, and pointed him out to arriving officers.
Kongduang and Laowatdhanasapya were transported by Miami Beach Fire Rescue to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center, where both were pronounced dead from their injuries.
Investigators also determined that shortly before the fatal crash, Negron-Morris had been involved in a separate hit-and-run collision at 71st Street and Bay Drive on Normandy Isle. An officer had observed Negron-Morris fleeing that scene and attempted to give chase but lost sight of the vehicle just moments before the deadly crash on Collins Avenue.
According to the arrest report, a DUI investigation was initiated and Negron-Morris showed signs of impairment but refused to provide a blood sample. Police ordered hospital staff at Mount Sinai Medical Center to conduct a forced blood draw. Negron-Morris told investigators his drug of choice is crack cocaine and marijuana, but that on the day of the crash he had consumed only marijuana and an unknown medication provided by his girlfriend.
In a chilling statement to investigators, Negron-Morris said he suffers from schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and depression, and that he had intended to kill himself by crashing the vehicle. He told police he recalled closing his eyes, pressing the accelerator, and hoping to die. MBPD spokesperson Officer Christopher Bess addressed the confession directly. “The justification given by the driver was he wanted to kill himself, so he closed his eyes and accelerated,” Bess said. “Unfortunately, he didn’t kill himself. He killed two innocent lives last night.”
Negron-Morris was arrested and booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where he is currently being held on a magistrate hold. He faces two counts of reckless vehicular homicide and two counts of leaving the scene of a crash causing death. Investigators have indicated that additional charges may be forthcoming as the investigation into both incidents continues.
Sarisa Kongduang was a current student at Indiana University at the time of her death. Greatgomon Laowatdhanasapya graduated from Indiana University in 2024. Both were visiting Miami Beach from Indiana at the time of the crash. Indiana University has not yet released an official statement.
Collins Avenue at 73rd Street is located in the North Beach neighborhood of Miami Beach, a bustling pedestrian-heavy corridor lined with hotels, restaurants, and retail establishments along the Atlantic Ocean. The stretch of Collins Avenue through North Beach is a popular destination for tourists and visitors, particularly during evening hours. The area is heavily trafficked by both vehicles and pedestrians and is served by the Miami Beach municipal bus system.
Miami Beach is a barrier island city of approximately 82,000 residents located in Miami-Dade County, separated from the mainland city of Miami by Biscayne Bay. The city is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the United States, drawing millions of visitors annually to its beaches, nightlife, and Art Deco architecture. Miami Beach is accessible via causeways connecting it to the mainland and is served by the Miami International Airport, approximately 12 miles to the west.
Crash scene location — Collins Avenue at 73rd Street, North Beach, Miami Beach, Florida: View on Google Maps
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