Silas Sampson, 22, allegedly crashed into Bradley’s On 7th bar patio in Tampa’s Ybor City while fleeing police, killing four people and injuring 13 others.
A 22-year-old driver fleeing police allegedly plowed into a packed Florida patio bar early Saturday, killing four people and injuring at least 13 others in what Tampa’s police chief called a „senseless“ tragedy.
Silas Kenneth Sampson, 22, is charged with four counts of vehicular homicide and four counts of aggravated fleeing to elude serious bodily injury or death, according to Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) records.
He is being held at the Falkenburg Road Jail without bond.
Tampa Police Department (TPD) Chief Lee Bercaw said at about 12:30 a.m. Saturday, officers were monitoring a car street racing and driving recklessly on Interstate 275.
The driver, later identified as Sampson, continued to drive recklessly at high speed and exited the interstate and headed into downtown Ybor City.
At about 12:45 a.m., Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) found Sampson, initiated a pursuit, and attempted an unsuccessful PIT maneuver.
FHP disengaged as Sampson continued speeding toward 7th Avenue, later losing control of the car and crashing into a local gay bar, Bradley’s On 7th, Bercaw said.
