Car fleeing police slams into a bar in Florida, killing four and injuring eleven
A car speeding away from the police in Tampa, Florida, crashed into a crowded bar early Saturday, leaving four people dead and eleven injured. The accident happened in the historic Ybor City district, a popular nightlife and tourist area.
According to the Tampa Police Department, an air patrol unit spotted a silver sedan driving dangerously on the freeway around 12:40 a.m., after reports of it engaging in street racing nearby. The Florida Highway Patrol later attempted a PIT maneuver—a technique used to disable fleeing vehicles by nudging their rear bumper—but it failed.
Officers disengaged the pursuit as the vehicle accelerated toward Ybor City. Soon after, the driver lost control and plowed into a group of pedestrians outside Bradley's on 7th bar, striking more than a dozen people.
- Three victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
- A fourth victim died later at a hospital.
- Two people remained in critical condition as of Saturday afternoon.
- Seven others were in stable condition, and two had been treated and discharged.
- Two more sustained minor injuries but declined medical treatment.
“What happened this morning was a senseless tragedy. Our hearts are with the loved ones of the victims and all those who were impacted,” Police Chief Lee Bercaw said.
Summary
A police chase in Tampa ended in tragedy when a speeding car crashed into a packed bar, killing four and injuring eleven in Tampa’s Ybor City district.