A New York-based Instagram model, Maecee Marie Lathers, 24, is facing serious charges after a fatal car crash in downtown Miami that resulted in two deaths, including a father. Lathers, who was driving a Mercedes, reportedly admitted to police that she was under the influence of a synthetic drug known as “pink cocaine” or “2C” at the time of the accident on August 10. She allegedly ran a red light, colliding with a black Range Rover before attempting to leave the scene.
The synthetic drug “2C” is associated with a dangerous Venezuelan gang and has been making its way through New York City’s drug scene. Lathers reportedly told authorities that she was from the future and possessed a crystal ball, according to a police report read by Florida 11th Circuit Court Judge Mindy S. Glazer.
The collision involved Lathers’ Mercedes, the Range Rover, and a silver Suzuki sedan carrying three people on their way to work. The 24-year-old driver of the Range Rover sustained minor injuries. The driver of the Suzuki, Abraham Ismael, was extracted from the vehicle and later died at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The rear passenger in the Suzuki was killed instantly, while Ismael’s wife, Juanita Hernández, survived the crash.
Hernández, who was in the front passenger seat, was hospitalized and reported that she was unable to work due to her injuries. She also revealed that her husband left behind a 16-year-old son. Hernández expressed her grief and concern for her son’s future on a GoFundMe page, noting that the boy’s mother in Nicaragua, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, is now without the financial support her son provided.
Lathers, whose driver’s license had been suspended since January, attempted to flee the crash scene but was apprehended by bystanders who returned her to the site of the accident. Police found Lathers vomiting and she later admitted to being under the influence of the party drug.
Lathers, who has been living in Florida since 2022, has an Instagram account with 11,000 followers where she posts pictures of herself in revealing outfits. Her account suggests affiliations with two modeling agencies. During her court appearance, she was seen wearing a green anti-suicide vest.
Prosecutors have labeled Lathers a “potential flight risk” due to the severity of the felony charges she faces. She has been charged with four counts of driving without a license resulting in death or serious injury and four counts of leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death or serious injuries. Judge Glazer described Lathers as a “danger to the community” and commended the bystanders who prevented her from fleeing the scene.
Lathers is currently being held on a $140,000 bond. If the bond is paid, she will be placed under house arrest with a “No Driving Order.”