A high-speed police chase ended in tragedy early Saturday morning when a car fleeing law enforcement crashed into a crowded bar in Tampa, Florida’s historic district, killing four people and injuring 11 others.
According to the German Press Agency (DPA), a Tampa Police Department aerial unit spotted a silver sedan driving recklessly on a highway around 12:40 a.m., following earlier street racing in another neighborhood.
Florida Highway Patrol officers pursued the vehicle and attempted a maneuver to stop it by nudging the rear fender, but the attempt failed. Tampa police stated that officers ultimately ended the pursuit as the car sped into the historic Ybor City district near downtown. Authorities said the driver eventually lost control, striking more than 12 people outside the bar.
Three victims died at the scene, while a fourth succumbed to injuries in hospital. By Saturday afternoon, two remained in critical condition, seven were listed as stable, and two had been treated and released. Additionally, two people sustained minor injuries but declined on-site treatment.
Police identified the suspect as 22-year-old Silas Sampson, who was arrested Saturday and held at Hillsborough County Jail. Court documents charge Sampson with four counts of vehicular homicide and four counts of fleeing or attempting to flee with serious injury or death, each classified as a first-degree felony.
Follow the latest news on Google News
