Four people were killed and eleven others injured when a speeding car fleeing police ploughed into a crowd outside a popular bar in Tampa’s historic Ybor City early on Saturday. The incident occurred near Bradley’s on 7th, a well-known nightlife venue in the area, shortly after midnight.According to the Tampa Police Department, a silver sedan driven by 22-year-old Silas Sampson was first seen street racing on Hillsborough Avenue before being spotted by an air patrol unit around 12:40 am (local time). As per AP, the Florida Highway Patrol tried to intercept the vehicle using a PIT manoeuvre — a tactic that forces a car to spin out — but the attempt failed.
Officers later disengaged as the vehicle sped towards downtown Tampa.Moments later, Sampson lost control of his car and crashed into a group of 15 people gathered outside the bar. Three victims died at the scene, while a fourth succumbed to injuries at a nearby hospital.Police said two of the injured were in critical condition, seven were stable and two were treated and released. Another two declined treatment for minor injuries.“This morning’s incident was a senseless tragedy,” Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said in a statement cited by both outlets. “Reckless driving put innocent lives in danger. The Tampa Police Department and the Florida Highway Patrol are committed to seeking justice for the victims and their families”, Bercaw added, as per NBC News.The suspect, Sampson, was arrested and booked into the Hillsborough County Jail, according to AP. Court records show he faces four counts of vehicular homicide and four counts of aggravated fleeing or eluding with serious bodily injury or death, all first-degree felonies.In a statement quoted by NBC News, Bradley’s on 7th owner Bradley Nelson said the car struck three people on the sidewalk before crashing into the bar’s patio. “This event has been very traumatic for my entire staff and myself. Our thoughts and prayers go to the families of those who were killed, and to all the injured,” Nelson said.Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, a former police chief, said on social media, “Our entire city feels this loss,” adding that the investigation remains ongoing.The crash has reignited debate over police pursuit policies in the United States. While some agencies have restricted high-speed chases due to rising fatalities, Florida’s highway patrol has recently eased such limits, allowing for more frequent use of high-risk PIT manoeuvres.
