Photo: Ajax9 / iStock / Getty Images
Tampa, FL - A 22-year-old man faces eight felony charges after a vehicle allegedly struck a crowd in Ybor City, killing four people and injuring several others.
According to police, a Dade City man is facing eight felony charges after a deadly crash in Ybor City early Saturday morning.
Authorities with the Tampa Police Department say the incident began around 12:40 a.m. when police aviation units spotted two vehicles traveling at high speeds westbound on Hillsborough Avenue toward Interstate 275.
Once the cars reached the interstate, officials said one vehicle separated, while the other continued south on the highway.
The latter exited near downtown, where Florida Highway Patrol troopers attempted a traffic stop at Nebraska Avenue and Palm Avenue.
Troopers also attempted a PIT maneuver but were unable to stop the vehicle before disengaging as the driver continued toward Ybor City.
Police said the car then entered the busy 7th Avenue corridor and crashed into a crowd standing outside Bradley’s.
Witnesses reported that the vehicle moved quickly through the area and struck multiple people.
Three victims died at the scene, and a fourth later died at the hospital.
Tampa Police reported that two additional victims were in critical condition Saturday afternoon, while others were hospitalized in stable condition.
Two people received treatment on-site and were released, bringing the total number of victims to 17. All were adults over the age of 20, according to authorities.
The driver, identified as 22-year-old Silas Sampson, was arrested at the scene.
Police said he is charged with four counts of vehicular homicide and four counts of aggravated fleeing with serious bodily injury.
Records show Sampson previously received a speeding citation in Hillsborough County less than two months ago.