A woman accused of fleeing a traffic stop with a deputy partly inside her car has been arrested after crashing into a school bus carrying 41 children in Tampa, Florida.
Tonnetta Evans, 54, allegedly drove off as Hillsborough County sheriff’s deputies attempted to remove her from a silver Kia Forte on Hillsborough Avenue West shortly after 4.30pm on Wednesday, September 23.
The Kia struck the bus carrying pupils from Pierce Middle School, along with its driver and a bus aide, before a pursuit could begin. The bus suffered minor damage and none of the children was injured. They were transferred to another vehicle and taken home.
Pipe bomb allegedly found in car
Evans was detained at the Howard Avenue and Armenia Avenue ramp to southbound Interstate 275, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
A search of the vehicle allegedly found a pipe bomb or other explosive device, brass knuckles, a Taser and a bandolier of shotgun shells. Deputies also reported finding methamphetamine, marijuana, prescription medication, drug paraphernalia and counterfeit $100 bills totalling $1,100.
Investigators said the car contained credit and identification cards belonging to other people, as well as silver coins. The vehicle had reportedly been stolen in Kentucky in 2022.
Evans faces more than a dozen charges, including aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon, armed possession of methamphetamine, aggravated fleeing to elude, possession of ammunition as a convicted felon and leaving the scene of a crash involving a school bus.
She also faces allegations relating to possession of another person’s identification, possession of controlled substances without a prescription, cannabis possession, drug paraphernalia, tampering with evidence, giving a false name to an officer and using an unassigned vehicle registration plate.
The sheriff’s office said Evans was additionally arrested on a Kentucky warrant for failing to appear in a case involving alleged methamphetamine possession and identity theft.
Authorities described Evans as an 11-time convicted felon who had served three prison terms in Indiana. Her previous convictions in Indiana and Kentucky include escape, burglary, vehicle burglary, identity theft and narcotics possession.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said the incident showed “a complete disregard for the safety of our deputy, other motorists and the children of our community”, adding that officials were fortunate no one was seriously hurt.
The sheriff’s office said the investigation remained active.
