Rolls-Royce driver on his way to Gables Whole Foods hits construction worker, cops say
A man driving a Rolls Royce on his way to the Whole Foods in Coral Gables was arrested after police said he barreled through a street barricade and “intentionally” hit a construction worker who was signaling him to turn around.
Luis Urdaneta, the 64-year-old co-founder of Monat, a Doral-based multi-level marketing company that sells beauty products across the globe, is facing a charge of aggravated battery, according to his Wednesday arrest report. As of Thursday afternoon, he was still in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $5,000 bond.
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During the afternoon of Jan. 9, Urdaneta was driving his two-tone Rolls-Royce in Coral Gables when he approached a construction zone in the 1500 block of San Remo Avenue, the report read. San Remo is the road from which you enter the Whole Foods parking garage.
Police said there was a visible street closure with barricades that did not allow through traffic. An unnamed construction worker was positioned by one of the barricades when he saw Urdaneta driving toward him and the closed road.
The worker signaled Urdaneta to turn around, but he refused and entered the closed street while the worker was in his path, the report read. The worker kept trying to tell Urdaneta to turn around. Instead, he “intentionally continued to drive forward striking and pushing the victim out of the way.”
While the worker was being hit, he saw Urdaneta looking directly at him motioning him to move out of his way. He drove away after the collision.
READ MORE: Rolls-Royce driver who hit Gables worker has faced scrutiny over his beauty company
After Urdaneta was arrested Wednesday, police said he told them that he was driving toward the Whole Foods Market in the area and went around the barricades. He alleged the worker suddenly jumped in front of his car and struck his windshield with his hand.
“[Urdaneta] stated he left the area because he was scared,” police wrote.
Natalie Leitman, a Miami-Dade public defender representing Urdaneta, did not immediately respond for comment.
According to court records, Urdaneta does not appear to have a criminal history or traffic citations in Miami-Dade County.
This story was originally published February 12, 2026 at 1:45 PM.
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