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

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

During a police chase, authorities failed to stop the speeding driver before he lost control of the car and crashed into the bar’s outdoor patio, Tampa police said in a statement.

Three victims died at the scene and another died at the hospital, police said. The other injuries range from serious to minor, police said.

The suspect, aged 22, is in police custody and an investigation is underway.

The Tampa Police Department’s aerial services first spotted a car driving recklessly on the highway shortly before 1 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) Saturday morning, the department said in a statement.

After the car, which had previously been seen street racing, went off the highway, the Florida Highway Patrol began pursuing it as it continued to speed through city streets.

The highway patrol then attempted a “PIT maneuver,” a controversial technique used by law enforcement to force a fleeing vehicle to suddenly turn sideways and stop.

PIT maneuvers 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 maneuver failed, the Highway Patrol stopped its pursuit and the driver continued to accelerate, police said.

He then lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a bar called Bradley’s, where he struck more than a dozen people gathered on the patio, according to police.

The bar is a popular LGBTQ venue, but police say there is currently no evidence to suggest the suspect was targeting 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 were released from the hospital and two were treated at the scene.

Authorities have not released their names.

“What happened this morning is a senseless tragedy, our hearts go out to the victims’ loved ones and all those who were affected,” Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said in a statement.

“Reckless driving puts innocent lives at risk,” 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 suffering, and our city is feeling this loss,” she wrote.