Horror moment speeding street racer crashes into bar killing 4 and injuring 13

Florida: Speeding car careers into busy bar in Tampa

This is the horrifying moment a speeding car fleeing police slammed into a crowd, killing four people and injuring 11. The vehicle was spotted driving recklessly on a motorway in Florida at about 12.40 am local time on Saturday after street racing in another neighborhood.

Florida Highway Patrol caught up and tried to bump the rear wing to cause the car to spin out, but this was unsuccessful. Highway patrol officers "disengaged" as the vehicle sped toward historic Ybor City in Tampa, police said. It was here that the driver lost control and hit more than a dozen people outside the bar, called Bradley’s.

A driver crashed into a bar while trying to evade police. (Image: TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT)

Three people died at the scene, and a fourth died at a hospital. Two people were hospitalised in critical condition, seven were listed as stable, and two had been treated and discharged, police said.

There were also two people who had only minor injuries and declined treatment at the scene.

Witness Howard Hopkins told FOX 13 Tampa Bay that the car hit a curb before crashing into the bar. He said: "Tables went everywhere, chairs went everywhere, bodies went everywhere. It was pretty bad."

The suspect has been identified as 22-year-old Silas Sampson, who is being held at the Hillsborough County Jail.

The vehicle was spotted driving recklessly on a motorway in Florida (Image: Tampa Police Department)

He has been charged with four counts of vehicular homicide and four counts of aggravated fleeing or eluding with serious bodily injury or death.

Police Chief Lee Bercaw said in a statement: "What happened this morning was a senseless tragedy. Our hearts are with the loved ones of the victims and all those who were impacted. Reckless driving put innocent lives in danger."

Mayor Jane Castor said the investigation is ongoing, adding, "Our entire city feels this loss".