Florida Woman Flees Traffic Stop, Crashes into School Bus
A woman in Florida, who has been convicted 11 times, tried to escape a traffic stop on Wednesday. During the incident, a deputy found himself partly inside her vehicle when she took off, eventually crashing into a school bus with 41 children on board, according to police reports. Authorities discovered a range of dangerous items in her car, including a pipe bomb, shotgun shells, counterfeit cash, drugs, and several stolen credit cards.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office reported that the traffic stop occurred around 4:36 p.m. involving a silver Kia Forte.
“Thanks to the quick actions of our deputies, a dangerous career criminal who was driving around with a pipe bomb in her car is now off our streets,” the office stated.
Body camera footage from the deputies showed the moment the driver was informed about the malfunctioning brake lights on her vehicle. Identified as 54-year-old Tonnetta Evans, she presented an alleged driver’s license but used the name “Kirsten” during the encounter, as noted in the footage.
Officers determined they had a valid reason to search her vehicle during the stop. However, Evans reportedly proved to be uncooperative, refusing to exit her car.
According to officials, as the deputy was partially inside the vehicle, Evans fled the scene. The police report indicated that right after her escape attempt, but before a pursuit could begin, she collided with the school bus carrying the middle school students and staff.
The bus sustained minor damage, but thankfully, no students were harmed in the accident. They were later transferred to another bus and taken home safely.
Evans was arrested shortly after the crash.
During a subsequent search of her vehicle, authorities recovered various items, including:
- A pipe bomb/explosive device
- Brass knuckles and a TASER
- A bandolier of shotgun shells
- Three ID cards belonging to other individuals
- Four credit cards belonging to others
- Counterfeit $100 bills amounting to $1,100
- Coins and half-dollars
- Methamphetamine, marijuana, and multiple prescription pills
Evans now faces over a dozen charges, such as:
- Aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon
- Possession of methamphetamine while armed
- Aggravated fleeing to elude
- Battery on a law enforcement officer
- Possession of ammunition as a felon
- Possession of an electric weapon
- Providing false information to an officer
- Possession of cannabis under 20 grams
- Possession of drug paraphernalia
- Possession of controlled substances without a prescription (three counts)
- Unlawful possession of personal identification of others (five or more counts)
- Tampering with physical evidence
- Attaching an unassigned tag
- Leaving the scene of a crash involving a school bus (hit and run)
Additionally, Evans has previous criminal records across two other states and was also arrested on a warrant from Kentucky for drug possession and identity theft. She has a broad history of felonies, including escape and burglary.
Officers found that the vehicle Evans was driving had been reported stolen from Kentucky in 2022.
Sheriff Chad Chronister expressed relief that no serious injuries occurred during the incident, stating that Evans displayed a blatant disregard for the safety of others, including children.
As of now, she remains in custody at the Falkenburg Road Jail without bond.
