4 dead, at least 13 injured after pursuit suspect crashes into crowd outside Ybor City business
By: Ybor City, FL - Four people are dead and at least 13 are injured after a man crashed into a Ybor City business early Saturday morning, according to officers.
The Tampa Police Department said they arrested Silas Sampson, 22, on multiple charges after the massive, deadly crash.
Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw says this began at 12:30 a.m. Saturday morning when officers spotted two vehicles racing near Hanna Avenue and Nebraska Avenue in Tampa. They proceeded westbound on Hillsborough Avenue when one of the vehicles drove onto I-275 Southbound.
TPD's air unit tracked it as it then exited downtown. Florida Highway Patrol troopers joined in and tracked the vehicle to Nebraska Avenue and Palm Avenue, where they attempted a PIT maneuver.
The vehicle then proceeded down busy 7th Avenue, and ultimately lost control of the car and crashed into the patio area of Bradley's On 7th, which is located in the 1500 block of East 7th Avenue. More than a dozen people were hit outside the business.
Three pedestrians were pronounced dead at the scene, and a fourth victim died at a hospital, according to TPD. Officals said 13 other people suffered injuries ranging from life-threatening to minor. However, after law enforcement's initial statements, they said a couple of the victims may have taken themselves to the hospital, so the numbers could range from 15-17.
All the victims were adults over the age of 20.
"This morning we had a tragic incident where at least four victims senselessly lost their lives and eleven others were injured as a result of a careless, reckless driver," Bercaw said.
As of now, police said they haven't found any evidence that suggest Sampson's actions were targeting a specific person or business. He was arrested and will be charged with four counts of vehicular homicide and four counts of aggravated fleeing to elude with serious bodily injuries.