USF Student Seeks Harsher Penalties After Ybor City Crash

A USF junior is asking state lawmakers to raise the mandatory prison sentence for drivers who flee from police and cause deaths.

On Nov. 8, 2025, Silas Sampson refused to stop for Florida Highway Patrol troopers. The pursuit moved into Ybor City. Sampson lost control near 15th Street and crashed into the outdoor patio at Bradley's on 7th. Four people died and 13 were injured. Sampson faces nearly 60 charges and is awaiting trial.

Abraham Albadawi says the current mandatory minimum of three years is too short. He wants the minimum increased to seven years. He argues the change will strengthen accountability and deter drivers from fleeing. Albadawi says the goal is to restore public confidence in Florida laws.

This is not Albadawi's first safety campaign. Earlier this year, he led a petition after the killings of USF doctoral students Nahida Bristy and Zamil Limon. That effort helped influence a voluntary off-campus housing safety initiative at the university. Local law enforcement and state representatives have already voiced support for his new proposal.

Albadawi has calls scheduled with state representatives this week. He is looking for a sponsor for a bill that could be considered in the March legislative session.

The push comes as Tampa police investigate a new deadly crash. A driver fled a traffic stop Saturday night and hit an SUV. The impact sent the SUV into a utility pole. One passenger died and two were injured. The driver left the scene and remains at large.

Police say they did not pursue the vehicle in the new case. The incident has drawn renewed attention to the dangers of drivers fleeing from law enforcement.