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SUMTER COUNTY, Florida (WESH) — A man is in custody after deputies say he crashed his vehicle Tuesday morning into a school bus in Sumter County that was transporting 19 kids, according to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies reported observing Qahiem Williams, 23, going almost 20 mph over the speed limit just before 7:30 a.m. in a school zone.
The deputy pursued Williams and attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but Williams accelerated and sideswiped two vehicles at the traffic light, the sheriff’s office said.
Leeanna Feeley said one of those cars was hers.
“All of a sudden I just hear bam and realize I got hit. It took me a couple of seconds to register what was happening,” Feeley said.
The crash damaged the axle of his vehicle, causing him to collide head-on with a Sumter County school bus, SCSO said.
Williams then fled from the vehicle and attempted to run toward Walmart, where he was quickly apprehended and taken into custody, deputies said.
East County Road 466 and County Road 103 were shut down as crews responded to the scene.
The sheriff’s office said none of the children were injured.
Feeley said her hit sent her to the hospital. She was just glad she had just dropped her daughter off.
“She’s only two years old… the rear side is where he hit so I can’t imagine the impact it would have had for her,” She said.
Williams is currently held without bond. He is charged with fleeing law enforcement, driving with a suspended license, possession of marijuana and fleeing the scene of a crash. Deputies said he could face additional charges.
The sheriff’s office said Williams also had two outstanding Sumter County warrants for fleeing and eluding and driving with a suspended license.
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