Skip to content

When Did The Skyway Bridge In Florida Collapse

Monday marks 42 years since the Sunshine Skyway Bridge collapse. A freighter crashed into the bridge during a storm on May 9, 1980. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.

The Skyway bridge collapsed 40 years ago. Here’s how we’re remembering the tragedy. The Tampa Bay Times is committed to sharing the sights and stories of the past. An aerial photo from May 9, 1980, shows the freighter Summit Venture after it collided with the Sunshine Skyway bridge.

The bridge collapse killed 35 people. Saturday marks 40 years since the 19,734-ton Summit Venture freighter slammed into the old Skyway bridge. Six cars, a truck and a Greyhound bus plummeted 150 feet into the choppy waters of Tampa Bay below.

The Tampa Bay Times is committed to sharing the sights and stories of the past. An aerial photo from May 9, 1980, shows the freighter Summit Venture after it collided with the Sunshine Skyway bridge. The bridge collapse killed 35 people. Saturday marks 40 years since the 19,734-ton Summit Venture freighter slammed into the old Skyway bridge.

###

What caused the Tampa Bay bridge collapse?

Photos: Sunshine Skyway Bridge disaster 1980 A car is halted at the edge of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge across Tampa Bay, Fla., after the freighter Summit Venture struck the bridge during a thunderstorm and tore away a large part of the span, May 9, 1980.

What happened to the old Skyway bridge?

The bridge was demolished and the new Sunshine Skyway Bridge was finished in 1987. Copyright 2022 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved.

How deep is the water under the Skyway bridge?

According to NOAA navigation charts, the water close to shore is between 1 foot and 10 feet deep, and the water under the middle of the bridge is between 20-25 feet. The deepest water under the bridge is the Mullet Key Channel, which is about 35 feet deep.

What is the scariest bridge in Florida?

The Sunshine Skyway Bridge has endured years of tragedy. From horrific collisions, unexpected collapses, and grim suicides, it’s seen its fair share of death. The bridge and the water it hovers over definitely has the history to create an eerie environment.

What caused the Skyway bridge collapse?

On May 9, 1980, during a driving rainstorm, a freighter crashed into the support columns of the southbound bridge. This caused 1200 feet of the suspended roadway to fall and disappear right into the bay.

How many died in Sunshine Skyway Bridge collapse?

(WFLA) — Tampa Bay will mark the 42nd anniversary of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge disaster on Monday. On May 9, 1980, the 19,734-ton Summit Venture freighter, got lost in fog and slammed into the bridge, tearing away a large part of the span. Thirty-five people were killed.

Why did the Sunshine Skyway fail?

1980 collapse The southbound span (opened in 1971) of the original bridge was destroyed at 7:38 a.m. on May 9, 1980, when the freighter MV Summit Venture collided with a pier (support column) during a sudden squall, sending over 1,200 feet (370 m) of the bridge plummeting into Tampa Bay.

How did the Sunshine Skyway Bridge collapse?

On one tragic day in 1980, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge would forever be associated with a devastating event. On May 9, 1980, during a driving rainstorm, a freighter crashed into the support columns of the southbound bridge. This caused 1200 feet of the suspended roadway to fall and disappear right into the bay.

More Answers On When Did The Skyway Bridge In Florida Collapse

The Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Florida Fell 40 Years Ago, After a …

A car that was driven by Dick Hornbuckle is halted at the edge of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge across Tampa Bay, Florida, after the freighter Summit Venture struck the bridge during a thunderstorm…

The Skyway bridge collapsed 40 years ago. Here’s how we’re remembering …

Florida The Skyway bridge collapsed 40 years ago. Here’s how we’re remembering the tragedy. The Tampa Bay Times is committed to sharing the sights and stories of the past. An aerial photo from May…

Skyway Bridge disaster – This Day in Automotive History

May 9, 2022May 9, 1980 – Skyway Bridge disaster May 9, 2022 Richard Hornbuckle’s car rests where it skidded to a stop just 14 inches from the edge of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, which was struck by the freighter Summit Venture on May 9, 1980.

Tampa’s 1980 Sunshine Skyway Bridge Disaster: Who Was At Fault?

Aug 24, 2021August 24, 2021 Over 41 years ago, on May 9, 1980, one of the worst maritime disasters in Tampa Bay’s history occurred. A violent storm shook the waves so hard that a freighter, the Summit Venture, struck the Sunshine Skyway Bridge at 7:33 a.m. Several passenger cars, a pickup truck and a Greyhound bus toppled 150 feet into the water.

The Sunshine Skyway Bridge Disaster: Tragedy Over Tampa Bay

It was Friday, May 9, 1980 — at 7:33 am — when the freighter Summit Venture rammed into the Sunshine Skyway Bridge during a severe storm. The bridge’s support pier was no match for the 20,000-ton ship. The pier was destroyed and the roadway above crashed into the waters of Tampa Bay.

See historic photos from the Sunshine Skyway bridge disaster 42 years ago

Published May 6, 2020 | Updated May 9 It was 42 years ago that the storm-blinded freighter Summit Venture crashed into the support columns of the Sunshine Skyway bridge, causing a 1,200-foot span…

Skyway Bridge Accident And Collapse – May 9, 1980, Tampa Florida

At 7:25 a.m. on May 9, 1980, with the Greyhound approaching Pinellas Point a few miles from the north end of the Sunshine Skyway bridge, Capt. John Lerro tensed at the helm of the freighter Summit…

Sunshine Skyway Bridge – Wikipedia

The Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge, often referred to as the Sunshine Skyway Bridge or simply the Skyway, is a cable-stayed bridge spanning the Lower Tampa Bay connecting St. Petersburg, Florida to Terra Ceia. The current Sunshine Skyway opened in 1987 and is the second bridge of that name on the site. It was designed by the Figg & Muller …

Has the skyway bridge ever collapsed? Explained by FAQ Blog

May 30, 2022When did the Skyway bridge collapse? A car is halted at the edge of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge across Tampa Bay, Fla., after the freighter Summit Venture struck the bridge during a thunderstorm and tore away a large part of the span, May 9, 1980. Debris from Sunshine Skyway Bridge between St.

Sunshine Skyway Bridge: Construction, History & Facts

Jan 12, 2022The history of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge begins with its predecessor, a steel cantilever bridge of the same name. The old bridge guarded over Tampa Bay for almost 30 years until May 9, 1980, when …

Skyway Bridge collapse: Remembering the tragedy 40 years later

On May 9, 1980, tragedy struck. A freight ship crashed into the support columns, causing 1,200 feet of the bridge to collapse. 35 people died that day. Tampa Bay Times Tampa Bay Times FLORIDA NEWS…

The Sunshine Skyway Bridge Collapse Of The 1980s In Florida

On May 9, 1980, The Sunshine Skyway Bridge collapsed into Tampa Bay, sending vehicles and a Greyhound bus plummeting over 150-feet into the water. Flickr creativelenna The freighter known as Summit Venture crashed into the columns under the bridge causing a 1,200-foot portion of the bridge to collapse into the water. Flickr Paul Huber

Why did florida bridge collapse?

What bridge broke in Florida? Saturday marks 40 years since the 19,734-ton Summit Venture freighter slammed into the old Skyway bridge. Six cars, a truck and a Greyhound bus plummeted 150 feet into the choppy waters of Tampa Bay below. Thirty-five died. The Skyway disaster remains one of the most tragic in Florida history.

Remembering the Skyway Bridge Disaster: ’This Is Not Explainable’

May 9, 2015Thirty-five years ago today, a cargo ship struck the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa Bay. The bridge collapsed and sent cars and a Greyhound bus hurdling into the water below. Thirty-five people…

Florida International University pedestrian bridge collapse

The Florida International University pedestrian bridge collapse occurred on March 15, 2018, when a 175-foot-long (53 m) section of the FIU-Sweetwater UniversityCity Pedestrian Bridge collapsed while under construction.

PDF

all, unlike videos of the collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge in St. Paul, Minnesota in 2008 and the well known collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in Tacoma, Washington in 1940, there is no known video taken of the old southbound span of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge at the moment of impact at 7:38 AM on Friday, 9 May 1980.

Skyway Bridge disaster – This Day in Automotive History

The original Sunshine Skyway Bridge, spanning more than four miles between St. Petersburg, Florida to Terra Ceia, opened in 1956 as a two lane road. In 1971, a second section opened, bringing the lane count to four. To many, it represented an engineering marvel, for ship captains, it became a hazard in Tampa Bay. That hazard proved deadly on this day in 1980 when the freighter MV Summit …

The Sunshine Skyway Bridge Disaster: Tragedy Over Tampa Bay

It was Friday, May 9, 1980 — at 7:33 am — when the freighter Summit Venture rammed into the Sunshine Skyway Bridge during a severe storm. The bridge’s support pier was no match for the 20,000-ton ship. The pier was destroyed and the roadway above crashed into the waters of Tampa Bay. Though the blinding rain, drivers in the southbound lanes …

Skyway Bridge Accident And Collapse – May 9, 1980, Tampa Florida

At 7:25 a.m. on May 9, 1980, with the Greyhound approaching Pinellas Point a few miles from the north end of the Sunshine Skyway bridge, Capt. John Lerro tensed at the helm of the freighter Summit …

Tampa’s 1980 Sunshine Skyway Bridge Disaster: Who Was At Fault?

41st Anniversary of Tampa’s Sunshine Skyway Bridge Disaster. August 24, 2021. Over 41 years ago, on May 9, 1980, one of the worst maritime disasters in Tampa Bay’s history occurred. A violent storm shook the waves so hard that a freighter, the Summit Venture, struck the Sunshine Skyway Bridge at 7:33 a.m. Several passenger cars, a pickup …

Sunshine Skyway Bridge – Wikipedia

The Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge, often referred to as the Sunshine Skyway Bridge or simply the Skyway, is a cable-stayed bridge spanning the Lower Tampa Bay connecting St. Petersburg, Florida to Terra Ceia. The current Sunshine Skyway opened in 1987 and is the second bridge of that name on the site. It was designed by the Figg & Muller …

Remembering the Skyway Bridge disaster, 39 years later

Wah Kwong and its subsidiary, Hercules Carriers, were directed to pay the State of Florida $19 million for the broken bridge plus associated costs. The present Sunshine Skyway Bridge, which replaced both early spans, cost $224 million and opened in April, 1987. It is well-protected against incoming or outgoing ships. It was then-governor Bob …

The Skyway Bridge Disaster Documentary Website

The Skway Bridge Disaster documentary follows the events of what happened after harbor pilot Captain John Lerro struck the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa Bay, Florida. Stream Online Now $3.99 On May 9, 1980, America witnessed one of the most stunning tragedies in maritime history when the M/V Summit Venture, a massive 608’ bulk freighter, collided with one of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge’s …

Sunshine Skyway Bridge: Construction, History & Facts

The history of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge begins with its predecessor, a steel cantilever bridge of the same name. The old bridge guarded over Tampa Bay for almost 30 years until May 9, 1980, when …

A storm, a freighter and a collision with the Sunshine Skyway

On May 9, 1980, a heavy storm was lashing the Tampa, Florida, area. The freighter Summit Venture was heading into Tampa to pick up cargo when it crashed into a pier that provided support to the Sunshine Skyway, the bridge that connects Tampa with Bradenton. Due to poor visibility, southbound traffic on the bridge could not see the destruction …

The Sunshine Skyway Bridge Suicide Jumper Report

the sunshine skyway bridge on the west coast of florida, at the mouth of tampa bay, is the attraction of choice for many contemplating life’s self end. it’s the #4 suicide bridge in the country, #1 east of california. “Break out the Zoloft. Apparently, that’s what your friends and neighbors do, at least those who aren’t perched atop the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.” – s.p.times: latest jump: 05.15 …

John Lerro: The 36th victim of the Skyway Bridge disaster

After the disaster, a taller, cable-stayed bridge was constructed. It opened in 1987 at a cost of $224 million with a clearance of 175 feet and a channel 1,200 feet wide — 400 feet wider than the channel at the time of the disaster. “John definitely was the 36th victim of the disaster,” Yerrid said.

Remembering the Skyway Bridge Disaster: ’This Is Not Explainable’

May 9, 2015We remember a deadly accident on Florida’s Sunshine Skyway Bridge 35 years ago Saturday. We hear from survivors and find out what changes were made after the crash of a ship onto the bridge.

The Skyway Bridge tragedy at 40: The survivor – St Pete Catalyst

And for him to go the way he did, from bone cancer, it was so sad. He survived so many things, and to see him die in agony and pain like he did was horrendous.” Catalyst arts editor Bill DeYoung is the author of Skyway: The True Story of Tampa Bay’s Signature Bridge and the Man Who Brought it Down (University Press of Florida, 2013).

The Sunshine Skyway Bridge Collapse Of The 1980s In Florida

The current Sunshine Skyway Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge that opened in 1987 and is the second bridge to have this name in this same location. Flickr Matthew Paulson What is now considered a true symbol of Florida was once the site of a deadly collapse when a cargo ship collided with the bridge, killing over 30 people.

Resource

https://weather.com/news/news/2020-05-09-sunshine-skyway-collapse-40th-anniversary
https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida/2020/05/08/the-skyway-bridge-collapsed-40-years-ago-heres-how-were-remembering-the-tragedy/
https://automotivehistory.org/may-9-1980-skyway-bridge-disaster/
https://www.lorenzoandlorenzo.com/blog/community/sunshine-skyway-bridge-disaster/
https://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/law-order/2014-05-09/the-sunshine-skyway-bridge-disaster-tragedy-over-tampa-bay
https://www.tampabay.com/news/2020/05/06/the-sunshine-skyway-bridge-plunged-into-tampa-bay-40-years-ago/
https://gcaptain.com/may-9-1980-tampa-skyway-bridge-disaster/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunshine_Skyway_Bridge
https://efbce.fluxus.org/has-the-skyway-bridge-ever-collapsed
https://study.com/academy/lesson/sunshine-skyway-bridge-construction-history-facts.html
https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-sarasota-manatee/skyway-bridge-collapse-remembering-the-tragedy-40-years-later
https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/florida/sunshine-skyway-bridge-disaster-1980s-fl/
https://scottick.firesidegrillandbar.com/why-did-florida-bridge-collapse
https://www.npr.org/2015/05/09/405415801/remembering-the-skyway-bridge-disaster-this-is-not-explainable
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_International_University_pedestrian_bridge_collapse
http://www.interstate275florida.com/pdf/SkywayCollapse.pdf
https://automotivehistory.org/may-9-1980-skyway-bridge-disaster/
https://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/law-order/2014-05-09/the-sunshine-skyway-bridge-disaster-tragedy-over-tampa-bay
https://gcaptain.com/may-9-1980-tampa-skyway-bridge-disaster/
https://www.lorenzoandlorenzo.com/blog/community/sunshine-skyway-bridge-disaster/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunshine_Skyway_Bridge
https://stpetecatalyst.com/remembering-the-skyway-bridge-disaster-39-years-later/
http://skywaybridgedisaster.com/
https://study.com/academy/lesson/sunshine-skyway-bridge-construction-history-facts.html
https://www.millsshirley.com/blog/2022/06/a-storm-a-freighter-and-a-collision-with-the-sunshine-skyway/
https://www.skywaybridge.com/home.htm
https://www.islander.org/2020/05/john-lerro-the-36th-victim-of-the-skyway-bridge-disaster/
https://www.npr.org/2015/05/09/405415801/remembering-the-skyway-bridge-disaster-this-is-not-explainable
https://stpetecatalyst.com/the-skyway-tragedy-at-40-the-survivor/
https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/florida/sunshine-skyway-bridge-disaster-1980s-fl/