SUMTER COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — A 23-year-old man was arrested Tuesday after allegedly fleeing from a traffic stop and crashing into two vehicles before hitting a school bus.
The incident occurred around 7:20 a.m. near The Villages Intermediate Center, according to the Sumter County Sheriff's Office. The bus was carrying 19 children, none of whom were injured.
A deputy conducting traffic enforcement on County Road 466 observed Qahiem Williams speeding 17 mph over the limit. When the deputy activated emergency lights, Williams fled and sideswiped two vehicles at a stoplight.
Following the collisions, Williams collided head-on with Sumter County school bus No. 7818 on County Road 103. His vehicle sustained axle damage, authorities said.
Video footage from the sheriff's office shows the pursuit continuing through a nearby Walmart parking lot before Williams was taken into custody.
After being medically cleared, Williams was transported to the Sumter County Detention Center, where he remains without bond. He faces charges of fleeing and eluding, driving with a suspended license, marijuana possession, and leaving the scene of a crash. Additional charges may be forthcoming.
Authorities noted that Williams had two outstanding warrants related to similar offenses.
“I have zero tolerance when it comes to actions that put our children's lives in danger,” said Sheriff Pat Breeden. “This suspect has a history of this type of behavior, and our community is safer with him off our streets.”