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Four Dead, 11 Hurt After Police Pursuit Ends in Ybor City Bar Crash

Prosecutors charged 22-year-old Silas Sampson with first-degree felonies following a failed PIT attempt before the crash.

Overview

  • Tampa police say an aerial unit spotted a silver sedan around 12:40 a.m. after reports it had been street racing, and Florida Highway Patrol attempted an unsuccessful PIT maneuver.
  • Officers withdrew as the vehicle sped into Ybor City, where the driver lost control and struck pedestrians outside a crowded bar.
  • Three victims died at the scene and a fourth at a hospital, with a fifth person in critical condition, eight in stable condition, and two declining treatment; all 15 victims are adults.
  • Sampson was arrested Saturday and booked into the Hillsborough County jail, and no attorney was listed in initial reports.
  • Police described the incident as a senseless tragedy in a busy nightlife district, with the investigation and hospital treatments continuing.