Nancy G. Lopez-Ruiz, Miami Heat Dancer, Dies in Motorcycle Crash

by Amy Judd | September 13, 2010 at 10:32 am

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Nancy G. Lopez-Ruiz, Who Recently Became a Miami Heat Dancer, Has Died in a Motorcycle Crash

The Tampa Bay Online is confirming that the 22-year-old dancer was killed when a car hit the motorcycle she was driving.

Nancy Lopez-Ruiz only recently joined the dance team for the Miami Heat, but was riding her 2003 Suzuki motorcycle on Friday night when the car riding behind her hit the median and then hit her bike. She was pronounced dead on the scene after she was thrown from the cycle.

The car behind was being driven by Mario Careaga from Fort Lauderdale, and although the police looked opened a drunk-driving file, no charges have been filed.

Miami Heat's President of Business Operations, Eric Woolworth, released a statement about Nancy Ruiz's death:

"Nancy was a lovely young woman with an upbeat personality. Her fierce passion for dancing was contagious," Woolworth said in a statement. "We wish to extend our deepest condolences to her family, friends and teammates."

Nancy Lopez-Ruiz's funeral will be held at 9:30am on Friday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Bradenton, with a visitation to be held on Thursday from 5 to 8pm at Brown and Sons Funeral Home in Bradenton.