A car fleeing police slams into a bar in Florida, killing 4 and injuring 11

A speeding car fleeing police slammed into a crowded bar early Saturday killing four people and injuring 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 a m after police announced the silver sedan had been seen street racing in another neighborhood according to a police department report The Florida Highway Patrol caught up with the motorcycle and tried to perform a maneuver that involves bumping a rear fender of a fleeing wagon to cause it to spin out known as a PIT or precision immobilization technique but it was unsuccessful Highway patrol officers disengaged as the automobile sped toward the historic Ybor City district near downtown Tampa police revealed Ultimately the driver lost control of the car and hit more than a dozen people outside the bar police mentioned Three casualties died at the scene and a fourth victim died at a hospital As of Saturday morning a fifth victim was hospitalized in critical condition and eight additional casualties were being treated at local hospitals but were listed as stable police explained Two other casualties experienced minor injuries and declined recovery at the scene All sufferers are adults What happened this morning was a senseless tragedy our hearts are with the loved ones of the casualties and all those who were impacted Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw commented in a report Officers identified the suspect as -year-old Silas Sampson who was booked Saturday and is being held at the Hillsborough County Jail Court documents displayed 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 Kate Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press Summary for America Statehouse News Initiative Review for America is a nonprofit national system project that places journalists in local newsrooms to summary on undercovered issues Source