Four Killed, Eleven Injured After Speeding Car Crashes Into Crowd in Ybor City, Florida
TAMPA, Fla. — A late-night street race in Tampa’s Ybor City Historic District ended in tragedy early Saturday when a speeding car plowed into a crowd of pedestrians, killing four people and injuring eleven others, according to local police.
Officials said the suspect, 22-year-old Silas Sampson of Dade City, is facing eight felony charges, including four counts of vehicular homicide and four counts of aggravated fleeing with serious bodily injury.
Street Racing Led to Deadly Crash
Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said the crash stemmed from an illegal street race that began around 12:40 a.m. when police air units spotted two vehicles racing westbound on Hillsborough Avenue toward Interstate 275.
“One vehicle broke off, while the other continued south toward downtown,” Bercaw said. The Florida Highway Patrol attempted a traffic stop and later a PIT maneuver, but the driver continued at high speed into Ybor City.
The car then sped down 7th Avenue, one of the city’s busiest nightlife streets, and slammed into a crowd outside Bradley’s on 7th, a popular bar and restaurant.
Victims and Injuries Reported
Police said three victims died at the scene, and a fourth person died later at the hospital. A fifth victim remains in critical condition, while eight others are being treated for injuries described as non-life-threatening.
Two people with minor injuries declined hospital treatment, according to officials.
“This is a devastating tragedy for our community,” Chief Bercaw said during a press briefing. “These were innocent people just out enjoying their night when reckless behavior cost lives.”
Suspect Arrested at the Scene
Authorities confirmed that Sampson was taken into custody immediately after the crash. He appeared uninjured and cooperated during the arrest.
Court records show that Sampson had been previously cited for speeding in Hillsborough County less than two months ago, after being clocked at 99 mph in a 70 mph zone on Interstate 75.
Community in Shock
Residents and local officials expressed outrage over the crash, calling for tougher penalties for street racing and reckless driving. “We’ve seen far too many lives lost to preventable speeding incidents,” one city commissioner said.
As of Saturday evening, investigators from the Florida Highway Patrol and Tampa Police Department’s Traffic Homicide Unit remained at the scene collecting evidence.
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