TAMPA, Fla.(Rajeev Sharma): A police pursuit through Tampa’s early-morning streets ended in disaster Saturday when a car speeding away from law enforcement crashed into a crowd of people gathered outside a popular Ybor City bar, killing four and leaving eleven others injured.
Authorities say the crash happened shortly after midnight near Bradley’s on 7th, a well-known nightlife spot in the city’s historic district. The vehicle, a silver sedan, had been observed racing on a nearby highway before officers attempted to stop it.
According to investigators, a Florida Highway Patrol unit tried to execute a precision immobilization technique—commonly known as a PIT maneuver—to bring the chase to an end, but the attempt failed. Troopers then broke off the pursuit as the suspect sped toward downtown Tampa. Moments later, the car barreled into pedestrians outside the bar.
Three people died at the scene, and a fourth passed away later at the hospital. Officials said several of the injured remain hospitalized, with two in critical condition as of Saturday afternoon. Others were treated and released.
Police have identified the suspected driver as Silas Sampson, 22, who was arrested and booked into the Hillsborough County Jail. He faces multiple felony charges, including vehicular homicide and aggravated fleeing to elude.
“This tragedy should never have happened,” Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said in a prepared statement. “Our entire department grieves alongside the victims’ families and everyone touched by this horrific event.”
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, who once served as the city’s police chief, called the crash “a heartbreaking reminder of how reckless decisions can destroy lives in an instant.”
The incident has renewed discussion over the dangers of high-speed pursuits. Federal studies have urged police agencies to restrict such chases due to the growing number of civilian casualties nationwide. Still, Florida’s highway patrol recently broadened its pursuit policies, allowing more discretion in when officers can chase or use high-risk tactics.
Crash reconstruction experts and detectives are reviewing surveillance footage from surrounding businesses as the investigation continues.
Police said no additional suspects are being sought.
