Four Killed, 13 Injured After Fleeing Driver Plows Into Ybor City’s Bradley’s on 7th
“He said, ‘Ok, so I killed someone … just get me to jail so I can get these handcuffs off.’” — from the arrest affidavit for Silas Kenneth Sampson, 22
What Happened
Early Saturday (November 8, 2025), a Toyota Camry barreled down East 7th Avenue in Tampa’s Ybor City and jumped the curb outside Bradley’s on 7th, a landmark LGBTQ+ nightclub. The car struck pedestrians and the venue’s outdoor seating area, killing four people and injuring at least 13 more. Tampa Police say the driver had been speeding through the city after being spotted for reckless driving and alleged street racing.
The Victims
Authorities identified the deceased as Marlon Anthony Collins, 54, of Bartow; Sherman Jones, 53, of Tampa; Lisa Sherell Johnson, 41, of Winter Haven; and Kristina Maria Richards, 25, of Ohio. A community vigil drew mourners to the crash site as hospitals treated the injured—one of whom remained in critical condition as of Sunday.
The Suspect and Charges
Troopers and Tampa Police arrested 22-year-old Silas Kenneth Sampson after he ran from the wreck. According to court filings, officers noted signs of impairment; Sampson refused a voluntary blood draw, and investigators obtained a warrant. He is being held without bond on four counts of vehicular homicide and aggravated fleeing to elude with serious injury, among other charges. Prosecutors moved to keep him jailed pretrial, citing public-safety risk and the strength of the evidence.
The Pursuit Timeline
A police helicopter first spotted the Camry driving erratically on I-275 around 12:39 a.m. Florida Highway Patrol attempted a PIT maneuver but disengaged minutes later as the vehicle headed toward dense pedestrian traffic on 7th Avenue. Newly released police video shows the Camry continuing east before losing control and smashing into Bradley’s patio just east of 15th Street. Tampa Police emphasize their units did not continue a high-speed chase into the crowded district; FHP says its troopers disengaged prior to entry onto 7th.
Policy Questions After the Crash
The crash immediately reignited debate over high-speed pursuit policies. Tampa Police limit chases to violent felonies; FHP guidelines allow broader discretion. Public-safety experts warn pursuits should be narrowly justified due to risk to bystanders. Local leaders and business owners are now weighing pedestrian-safety changes on 7th Avenue during peak hours.
“This tragedy rests solely on the suspect’s reckless actions, not law enforcement.” — Madison Kessler, Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
What’s Next
Sampson has a pretrial detention hearing set for Thursday. Prosecutors are awaiting toxicology results from the compelled blood draw. City officials and community advocates are pushing for immediate safety reviews in Ybor City while families prepare to bury loved ones.
Sources & Links
Tampa Bay Times – Victims in Ybor City crash identified; suspect accused of fleeing police
https://www.tampabay.com/news/tampa/2025/11/11/ybor-crash-victims-identified-silas-kenneth-sampson/
Tampa Bay Times – ‘It was awful’: Community seeks comfort, answers after Ybor crash
https://www.tampabay.com/news/tampa/2025/11/09/ybor-crash-community-reacts/
Associated Press – Florida bar crash: 4 killed, multiple injured after driver fleeing police hits crowd
https://apnews.com/article/ybor-city-crash-florida-patrol-vehicular-homicide
FOX 13 Tampa Bay – Suspect appears in court after deadly crash outside Bradley’s on 7th
https://www.fox13news.com/news/ybor-crash-suspect-silas-kenneth-sampson-court
Spectrum News 9 – TPD says officers did not pursue before deadly Ybor City crash
https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2025/11/09/tampa-police-ybor-crash-pursuit-policy
WFLA News Channel 8 – At least 4 killed, 13 injured after car plows into crowd in Ybor City
https://www.wfla.com/news/hillsborough-county/ybor-city-crash-bradleys-on-7th
