An early morning police chase in Tampa, Florida, ended with the “reckless” driver crashing into a bar, killing four people and injuring 13 others.
In a police pursuit, authorities were unsuccessful at stopping the speeding driver before he lost control of the car and slammed into the bar’s outdoor patio, the Tampa Police Department said in a statement.
Three victims died on the spot and another died at the hospital, police said. The remaining injuries range from life-threatening to minor, police said.
The 22-year-old suspect is in custody and an investigation is underway.
The Tampa Police Department’s air service first spotted a car driving recklessly on the highway just before 01:00 local time (06:00 GMT) on Saturday morning, the department said in a statement.
After the car, which had previously been seen street racing, got off the interstate, the Florida Highway Patrol began to chase after it as it continued speeding through the city streets.
The highway patrol then attempted a “PIT manoeuvre”, a controversial technique law enforcement use to force a fleeing vehicle to suddenly spin sideways and stop.
PIT manoeuvres sometimes result in the deaths of innocent bystanders, the federal government wrote in a 2023 report that urged officers to consider less dangerous pursuit techniques.
When the manoeuvre failed, the highway patrol stopped their pursuit and the driver continued speeding on, police said.
He then lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a bar named Bradley’s, where he hit more than a dozen people who were gathered on the patio, according to police.
The bar is a popular LGBTQ spot, but police say there is currently no evidence suggesting that the suspect was targeting any specific individuals or businesses.
In addition to the four people killed, 13 were injured, including two in critical condition and seven in stable condition. Two have been discharged from the hospital and two were treated at the scene.
Authorities have not released their names.
“What happened this morning was a senseless tragedy, our hearts are with the loved ones of the victims and all those who were impacted,” Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said in a statement.
“Reckless driving put innocent lives in danger,” he said. “The Tampa Police Department and the Florida Highway Patrol are committed to seeking 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 feels this loss,” she wrote.
By BBC News
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