Car fleeing police slams into bar in Tampa, killing 4 people and injuring 11

"A speeding car fleeing police slammed into a crowded bar early on Saturday, killing four people and injuring 11 in a historic district of Tampa, Florida, known for its nightlife and tourists. An air patrol unit with the Tampa police department spotted the car driving recklessly on a freeway at about 12.40am after police said the silver sedan had been seen street racing in another neighborhood, according to a police department statement."

"The Florida highway patrol caught up with the vehicle and tried to perform a maneuver that involves bumping a rear fender of a fleeing vehicle to cause it to spin out, known as a pit, or precision immobilization technique, but it was unsuccessful. Highway patrol officers disengaged as the vehicle sped toward the historic Ybor City district near downtown, Tampa police said. Ultimately, the driver lost control of the car and hit more than a dozen people outside the bar, police said."

A speeding car fleeing police struck a crowded bar in Ybor City, Tampa, early Saturday, killing four people and injuring 11 adults. An air patrol unit observed the silver sedan driving recklessly after reports of street racing; the Florida Highway Patrol attempted a PIT maneuver but it failed. Highway patrol officers disengaged as the vehicle sped toward the historic district, where the driver then lost control and hit more than a dozen people outside the bar. Three victims died at the scene and a fourth died at a hospital; others were hospitalized, including one in critical condition. The 22-year-old suspect, Silas Sampson, was arrested and charged with four counts of vehicular homicide and four counts of aggravated fleeing or eluding with serious bodily injury or death.

Read at www.theguardian.com