Four people were killed and 13 were injured early Saturday morning after a speeding car crashed into a bar in Ybor City.
In a news release, Tampa Police said one of their air units spotted a silver Toyota Camry driving recklessly at a high speed on I-275 around 12:40 a.m. Police believe the same vehicle had been racing on Hillsborough Avenue near 22nd Street.
The car exited the interstate at Doyle Carlton Drive, and officers with both TPD and Florida Highway Patrol located it near Palm Avenue and Nebraska Avenue. They began pursuing the car, and unsuccessfully attempted to use a PIT (precision immobilization technique) maneuver to force the vehicle to stop.
The driver continued speeding eastbound on 7th Avenue toward Nebraska Avenue. FHP stopped their pursuit as the driver approached 7th Avenue.
Police say the driver continued on, lost control and crashed into the outdoor patio area of Bradley's on 7th, a popular LGTBQ+ nightclub at 1510 E. 7th Avenue. The car slammed into more than a dozen people who were outside.
Three people died at the scene, and a fourth died at the hospital. FHP will identify them after they notify next of kin.
TPD officials increased the number of injured to 13 Saturday afternoon after two people went to a local hospital on their own.
Two people are in critical condition, while seven are listed in stable condition at local hospitals. Two were admitted to the hospitals and have been discharged, and two more people suffered minor injuries and declined treatment on scene. Police say all 17 victims are adults.
The driver, 22-year-old Silas Sampson, was arrested at the scene. He's now being held at the Hillsborough County Jail.
Court documents showed Sampson has been charged with four counts of vehicular homicide and four counts of aggravated fleeing or eluding with serious bodily injury or death. All are first degree felonies. No attorney was listed for Sampson.
TPD officials said Saturday afternoon there is no evidence that Sampson's actions were targeted toward any specific people or businesses.
“What happened this morning was a senseless tragedy, our hearts are with the loved ones of the victims and all those who were impacted,” said Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw.
“Reckless driving put innocent lives in danger. The Tampa Police Department and the Florida Highway Patrol are committed to seeking justice for the victims and their families.”
TPD released police helicopter footage and CCTV footage of Sampson driving on I-275, the attempted PIT maneuver by the FHP, and the moment Sampson's car came to a stop on 7th Avenue.
"Our entire city feels this loss,” said Mayor Jane Castor, who also served as Tampa's first female police chief, in a post on social media.
“My thoughts are with everyone affected. The investigation into this crash is ongoing, and we are working to get answers,” she wrote.
In a Facebook post, St. Pete Pride said Bradley's has long been a gathering spot for Tampa's LGBTQ+ community.
"St Pete Pride is holding the victims, their loved ones, and everyone affected in our hearts," the post said. "May they feel the embrace of a community that grieves with them, loves beside them, and will continue to lift them up through compassion and care."
More than 100 people attended a Pride of Tampa candlelight vigil Saturday at Bradley's.
The Florida Highway Patrol is the lead agency in the ongoing investigation of the crash.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this story.
