No Bail For Driver Who Killed Four, Injured 11 Outside Tampa Gay Bar In Crash During Police Chase [VIDEO]

Tampa’s Fox affiliate reports:

After the Ybor City crash that left four dead and multiple others injured, the Hillsborough State Attorney’s Office filed a motion to keep the suspect behind the wheel in custody. Silas Sampson, 22, is facing multiple charges after the deadly crash, including four counts of vehicular homicide and four counts of aggravated fleeing to elude causing bodily injury or death (a first-degree felony).

Prosecutors filed the motion to keep Sampson in custody until his trial, citing that he poses a danger to the community. They said in the motion that there were no conditions of release that could ensure public safety or guarantee his appearance in court. Sampson is the accused driver who rammed into a massive crowd outside Bradley’s on 7th, which is located in the 1500 block of East 7th Avenue in Ybor City. More than a dozen people were hit outside the business, officials said.

From a Tampa city press release:

Around 12:40am, TPD Air Service was monitoring a vehicle driving recklessly on I-275. The driver continued to drive recklessly at a high rate of speed and exited the interstate at Doyle Carlton Drive. The same vehicle had previously been observed street racing on Hillsborough Avenue near 22nd Street.

As Air Service continued to monitor the vehicle, around 12:45am, TPD and FHP located the vehicle in the area of Palm Avenue and Nebraska Avenue. FHP initiated a pursuit and attempted an unsuccessful PIT maneuver as the driver continued to travel at a high rate of speed toward Nebraska Avenue continuing eastbound on 7th Avenue.

FHP disengaged as the driver approached 7th Avenue. The driver continued at a high rate of speed and lost control and crashed into a business, hitting more than a dozen people who were outside.

Three victims died at the scene. A fourth victim died at the hospital. A fifth victim is hospitalized in critical condition, and eight additional victims are being treated at local hospitals but are currently listed as stable. Two other victims with minor injuries declined treatment on scene. All 15 victims are adults.

My first report on the crash is here. In the second video below, a police helicopter tracks the chase. Community members have renewed calls to close down the popular entertainment district’s street. Multiple local and state LGBTQ groups have expressed horror and condolences on social media and a candlelight vigil was held at the scene last night.

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