4 dead, 13 injured after street racer slams into crowd at Tampa bar

An early morning police chase in Tampa, Florida, ended with a “reckless” driver crashing into a bar, killing four people and injuring 13 others.

During a police pursuit, authorities failed to stop a speeding driver before he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the bar's patio, the Tampa Police Department said in a statement.

Three victims died on the spot, another died in the hospital, police said. The remaining injuries ranged from life-threatening to minor, police said.

A 22-year-old suspect is in custody and an investigation is ongoing.

The Tampa Police Department's aerial unit first spotted the vehicle driving recklessly on the highway shortly before 01:00 local time (0600 GMT) on Saturday morning, the department said in a statement.

After the car, which had previously been involved in street racing, left the interstate, the Florida Highway Patrol began pursuing it as it continued to speed through city streets.

The Highway Patrol then attempted the “PIT maneuver,” a controversial method used by law enforcement to force a fleeing vehicle to suddenly turn sideways and stop.

PIT maneuvers sometimes result in the death of innocent bystanders, the federal government wrote in a 2023 report. report this prompted officers to consider less dangerous methods of pursuit.

When the maneuver failed, the Highway Patrol abandoned the pursuit and the driver continued driving, police said.

He then lost control and crashed into Bradley's Bar, where police say he struck more than a dozen people gathered on the patio.

The bar is a popular hangout for the LGBT community, but police say there is currently no evidence that the suspect targeted any specific individuals or businesses.

In addition to the four deaths, 13 were injured, including two in critical condition and seven in stable condition. Two were discharged from the hospital, two were treated at the scene.

Authorities did not release their names.

“What happened this morning was a senseless tragedy, our hearts are with the victims' loved ones and all those affected,” Tampa Police Chief Lee Berkow said in a statement.

“Careless driving puts innocent lives at risk,” he said. “The Tampa Police Department and the Florida Highway Patrol are committed to achieving justice for the victims and their families.”

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor called the incident “devastating” in a statement on X.

“Families are grieving, first responders are hurting, and our city is feeling the loss,” she wrote.