A speeding car fleeing police slammed into a crowded bar, killing four people and injuring 11 in a historic district of Tampa, Florida , that is known for its nightlife and tourists.

An air patrol unit spotted the silver sedan driving recklessly on a freeway at about 12.40am local time (3.40pm AEDT) after it was seen street racing in another neighbourhood, the Tampa Police Department said in a statement.

The Florida Highway Patrol caught up with the vehicle and tried to perform a PIT manoeuvre, which involves bumping the rear fender to cause a spinout, but it was unsuccessful.

Highway patrol officers “disengaged” as the vehicle sped toward historic Ybor City near downtown, police said, and ultimately the driver lost control and hit more than a dozen people outside the bar, Bradley

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