A car fleeing police slams into a bar in Florida, killing 4 and injuring 11
In Florida’s historic Tampa area, known for its nightlife and tourists, a speeding car fleeing police crashed into a crowded bar early Saturday, killing four people and injuring 11 others.
A Tampa Police Department air patrol unit spotted the car driving recklessly on the highway around 12:40 a.m. after police said the silver sedan was seen street racing in another neighborhood, according to a statement from the police department.
The Florida Highway Patrol caught up with the vehicle and unsuccessfully attempted to perform a maneuver known as PIT, or precision immobilization technique, which would strike the rear fender of a fleeing vehicle and cause the vehicle to turn.
Tampa police said highway patrol officers “lost contact” as the vehicle sped toward the historic Ybor City area near downtown. Police said the driver lost control of the vehicle and hit more than a dozen people outside the bar.
Three victims died at the scene and the fourth victim died at the hospital. As of Saturday morning, a fifth victim was in critical condition and eight more victims were being treated at local hospitals but were in stable condition, police said. The other two victims suffered minor injuries and refused treatment at the scene. All 15 victims are adults.
“What happened this morning was a senseless tragedy, and our thoughts go out to the victims’ loved ones and those affected,” Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said in a statement.
Officers identified the suspect as 22-year-old Silas Sampson, who was booked into the Hillsborough County Jail on Saturday.
Court documents showed Sampson was charged with four counts of vehicular homicide and four counts of aggravated fleeing or eluding with serious bodily injury or death. All are first degree crimes. No attorney was listed for Sampson.
Mayor Jane Castor, who also served as Tampa’s first female police chief, said in a post on social media, “Our entire city feels this loss.”
“My thoughts are with everyone affected. The investigation into this crash is ongoing and we are working to get answers,” he wrote.
Some states and local agencies have pushed for this in recent years. restrict use High speed car chases to protect civilians and officers alike. to follow someone increase in deathsA 2023 study funded by the U.S. Department of Justice called for the rare use of police chases, noting that the danger to suspects, officers and bystanders often outweighs the need to immediately detain someone.
Still, Florida has doubled down on its tactics, with the state’s highway patrol changing its policies to loosen restrictions on car chases and the use of PIT maneuvers. The report, backed by the Department of Justice, called these tactics “high risk” and “controversial.”
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Kate Payne is a syndicated member of the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. report for america is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
