A night of fun at a Tampa bar turned into unthinkable tragedy when a high-speed police chase ended in disaster.
A 22-year-old driver, fleeing from officers, lost control and crashed straight into the outdoor patio of Bradley’s on 7th — a popular LGBTQ bar.
The crash killed four people and injured 13 others.
Police say the chase began around 1 a.m. when an air unit spotted a car driving recklessly on the highway.
The Florida Highway Patrol tried a controversial “PIT manoeuvre” — a technique meant to spin a suspect’s vehicle to a stop — but it failed.
Reckless Driving Turns Deadly
Moments later, the car veered off and slammed into the crowd outside the bar.
“This was a senseless tragedy,” Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said. “Reckless driving put innocent lives in danger.”
Mayor Jane Castor called the crash “devastating,” saying the entire city was grieving alongside victims’ families.
Officials have ruled out any targeted attack, emphasizing that the bar’s LGBTQ community was not specifically targeted.
Still, questions remain — about police pursuit tactics, accountability, and whether this tragedy could have been prevented.
As one local put it, “We go out to dance and unwind — not to die because someone wanted to show off their speed.”
