Felon Crashes School Bus Fleeing Deputies in Hillsborough

A Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office deputy is recovering after a suspect with 11 felony convictions allegedly fled a traffic stop, with the deputy partially inside the vehicle, and then crashed into a school bus carrying 41 middle school students. The incident occurred September 23, 2026, near Lithia Pinecrest Road.

Deputies initiated a traffic stop on a silver Kia Forte on Hillsborough Avenue West, near Dale Mabry Highway North, around 4:36 p.m. When deputies developed probable cause to search the vehicle, the driver, identified as Tonnetta Evans, 54, refused to cooperate. Evans placed the vehicle in drive and fled eastbound on Hillsborough Avenue West with a deputy partially inside.

Before a pursuit could be formally initiated, Evans's vehicle collided with a school bus transporting 41 students from Pierce Middle School, along with a bus driver and an aide. No students were injured, and the bus sustained minor damage. The students were transferred to another bus and transported home.

Evans was apprehended at the Howard Avenue and Armenia Avenue ramp to southbound I-275. A search of her vehicle revealed a pipe bomb, brass knuckles, a TASER, a bandolier of shotgun shells, multiple identification and credit cards belonging to others, $1,100 in counterfeit bills, silver coins, methamphetamine, marijuana, and prescription pills. The Kia Forte had been reported stolen out of Kentucky in 2022.

Sheriff Chad Chronister stated, "This suspect showed a complete disregard for the safety of our deputy, other motorists and the children of our community, and we are extremely fortunate that no one was seriously hurt." He added, "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."

Evans faces over a dozen charges, including aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon, armed possession of methamphetamine, aggravated fleeing to elude, and leaving the scene of a crash involving a school bus. She also faces a Kentucky warrant for possession of a controlled substance and theft of identity. Evans has prior felony convictions in Indiana and Kentucky, including escape, burglary, and drug possession.