- At least 11 people were injured in an early morning crash while having a good time at a popular nightlife hub
- The police detailed how the accident unfolded, described it as a senseless tragedy and expressed remorse for the victims
- Investigating officers identified and arrested the suspect, who now faces four charges of first-degree murder
Nancy Odindo, a TUKO.co.ke journalist, has over four years of experience covering Kenyan politics, news, and features in digital and print media.
At least four people have been killed and 11 others injured after a speeding driver who was escaping police slammed into a crowded bar in Tampa, Florida.
Source: Facebook
The incident occurred just after midnight on Saturday, November 8, in the historic Ybor City District, a popular nightlife hub near downtown Tampa.
How were 4 people killed in Tampa accident?
According to the Tampa Police Department, an air patrol unit observed a silver sedan driving erratically on a freeway after it had allegedly been involved in street racing in a nearby neighborhood.
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Florida Highway Patrol officers attempted a precision immobilisation technique (PIT), a tactic where the rear fender of a fleeing vehicle is tapped to force it to spin out, but the manoeuvre failed.
Troopers then disengaged as the car accelerated toward Ybor City, where the driver eventually lost control and drove into a crowd outside a bar, injuring more than a dozen people.
“Four people tragically lost their lives. They were having a good time, expecting to go home safely, and a careless, reckless driver took everybody’s life in his own hands and ended these lives,” said Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw. “It is not going to be the same again after the situation.”
Three victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while a fourth died later at the hospital.
By morning, one individual remained in critical condition, and eight others were hospitalised with stable injuries.
Two additional victims suffered minor injuries and declined medical treatment at the scene.
“What happened this morning was a senseless tragedy. Our hearts go out to the loved ones of the victims and everyone affected,” Bercaw said.
Who is the suspected killer Tampa driver?
Police identified the suspect as 22-year-old Silas Sampson.
Source: Facebook
He was taken into custody and booked at the Hillsborough County Jail.
According to court records, Sampson is facing four counts of vehicular killing and four counts of aggravated fleeing or eluding resulting in serious bodily injury or death—each classified as a first-degree felony.
“Additional charges may follow,” Steve Gaskins, Florida Highway Patrol Sergeant said.
How did Gatundu driver die in Mlolongo accident?
Elsewhere, Peter Kagoni, a dedicated driver and kamagera, tragically lost his life in a devastating accident near the weighbridge in Mlolongo.
According to his brother, Henry Githuka, Kagoni had stepped out of the truck to offload ballast when the incident occurred.
While carrying out the task, he was fatally struck and became trapped at the rear of the vehicle, with part of his body left suspended.
The circumstances of the accident raised concerns, particularly about the truck’s container door, which reportedly failed to stay upright.
It is suspected that a lack of hydraulic pressure may have caused the door to collapse unexpectedly, striking Kagoni as he worked with a spade to unload the cargo.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
