A Florida driver allegedly fleeing a traffic stop slammed head-on into a school bus carrying 19 children before abandoning his damaged vehicle and fleeing on foot, authorities said.
The dramatic Tuesday morning incident was captured on video, including footage of the vehicle crashing into the Sumter County school bus and police body camera video showing a deputy chasing down and arresting the suspect.
All 19 children aboard the bus were safe and uninjured, according to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident began around 7:20 a.m. when a deputy conducting school-zone traffic enforcement in front of The Villages Intermediate Center spotted Qahiem Williams, 23, allegedly driving 17 mph over the posted speed limit on County Road 466 near Tatonka Terrace.
According to the sheriff’s office, the deputy made a U-turn and activated his emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop, but Williams allegedly accelerated and sideswiped two vehicles at a traffic light.
Authorities said the collisions damaged the axle of Williams’ vehicle, causing him to collide head-on with a Sumter County school bus on County Road 103.
Video taken from inside the bus shows the collision, with the driver’s side door of Williams’ vehicle appearing to open moments before impact.
Williams then allegedly got out of the vehicle and fled on foot, according to the sheriff’s office.
Body camera video shows a deputy pursuing Williams before apprehending him near a Walmart.
Williams was taken into custody and faces multiple charges, including fleeing or eluding, driving with a suspended license, possession of marijuana, leaving the scene of a crash, resisting an officer, hit-and-run and a moving traffic violation, according to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office website.
Authorities said Williams also had two outstanding Sumter County warrants for fleeing or eluding and driving with a suspended license.
Sumter County Sheriff Patrick Breeden condemned the alleged actions, saying they put children’s lives in danger.
“I have zero tolerance when it comes to actions that put our children’s lives in danger,” Breeden said in a statement.
“This suspect has a history of this type of behavior and our community is safer with him off our streets,” he added.
Williams was medically cleared before being transported to the Sumter County Detention Center, where authorities said he was being held without bond.
