SUMTER COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — A 23-year-old man was arrested Tuesday morning after a traffic stop led to a series of collisions involving a school bus.
According to the Sumter County Sheriff's Office, the incident occurred around 7:20 a.m. on County Road 466, near The Villages Intermediate Center. Deputies reported that Qahiem Williams was driving 17 mph over the speed limit when he was stopped.
Witnesses reported that after a deputy activated emergency lights, Williams fled the scene and sideswiped two vehicles at a traffic light. His vehicle sustained damage to the axle before subsequently colliding head-on with Sumter County school bus No. 7818 on County Road 103. There were 19 children on the bus, but none were hurt.
Video footage from the sheriff's office shows deputies pursuing Williams through a nearby Walmart parking lot prior to his arrest. He was medically cleared before being taken into custody.
Authorities said Williams faces multiple charges, including fleeing and eluding, driving with a suspended license, marijuana possession, and leaving the scene of an accident. He is currently held without bond at the Sumter County Detention Center, and additional charges may be forthcoming.
The sheriff's office noted that Williams had outstanding warrants related to similar offenses. Sheriff Pat Breeden emphasized the importance of child safety, stating, “This suspect has a history of this type of behavior, and our community is safer with him off our streets.”