TAMPA, FL, (November 8, 2025) – A 53-year-old man, identified as Sherman Jones, was tragically killed early Saturday morning after being struck by a fleeing driver in Tampa’s Ybor City, authorities said.
The Florida Highway Patrol reported that the crash occurred around 12:40 a.m. when a Toyota Camry driven by 22-year-old Silas Sampson fled from a police stop and sped into the Ybor City area. Troopers attempted a PIT maneuver to stop the vehicle but called off the pursuit shortly before the fatal crash.
Authorities said Sampson’s vehicle continued east on 7th Avenue, struck a Mazda at the North 15th Street intersection, and then went onto the sidewalk in front of The Copper Shaker bar, hitting multiple pedestrians, including Jones. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Sampson was arrested and booked into the Hillsborough County Jail on charges of vehicular homicide and fleeing to elude resulting in death.
