A Florida man is in custody after allegedly fleeing a traffic stop and colliding head-on with a school bus carrying 19 children. The incident occurred Tuesday morning in Sumter County.
Qahiem Williams, 23, faces 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. Authorities also stated Williams had two outstanding warrants for fleeing or eluding and driving with a suspended license.
The pursuit began around 7:20 a.m. when a deputy observed Williams traveling 17 mph over the speed limit in a school zone on County Road 466 near The Villages Intermediate Center. When the deputy initiated a traffic stop, Williams allegedly accelerated, sideswiped two vehicles at a traffic light, and then collided head-on with a Sumter County school bus on County Road 103. The initial collisions reportedly damaged the axle of Williams' vehicle.
Video captured from inside the bus shows the collision. Williams then allegedly exited his vehicle and fled on foot. Body camera footage from a deputy shows a pursuit ending with Williams' apprehension near a local Walmart.
All 19 children on the bus were reported to be safe and unharmed. Sumter County Sheriff Patrick Breeden condemned the suspect's alleged actions, stating, "I have zero tolerance when it comes to actions that put our children's lives in danger." He added, "This suspect has a history of this type of behavior and our community is safer with him off our streets."
Williams was medically cleared before being transported to the Sumter County Detention Center, where he is being held without bond.