SUMTER COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — A 23-year-old man was arrested Tuesday following a traffic incident involving multiple vehicles and a school bus carrying 19 children.
The Sumter County Sheriff's Office confirmed that none of the children were injured in the crash.
At approximately 7:20 a.m., a deputy conducting traffic enforcement on County Road 466 near Tatonka Terrace observed Qahiem Williams allegedly speeding at 17 mph over the limit, authorities said.
Upon activating emergency lights, Williams reportedly accelerated, sideswiped two vehicles at a traffic light, and subsequently crashed into Sumter County school bus No. 7818 on County Road 103.
Authorities released video footage showing a pursuit through a nearby Walmart parking lot before Williams was apprehended.
Williams was medically cleared and taken into custody at the Sumter County Detention Center, facing charges of fleeing and eluding, driving with a suspended license, marijuana possession, and leaving the scene of a crash. He is held without bond, with additional charges pending.
According to authorities, Williams also had two outstanding warrants for similar offenses related to fleeing and driving with a suspended license.
“I have zero tolerance when it comes to actions that put our children's lives in danger,” Sheriff Pat Breeden stated. “This suspect has a history of this type of behavior, and our community is safer with him off our streets.”