The Sunshine Skyway Bridge Collapse: 43 Years Later
After finding out about the major bridge collapsing in Baltimore it reminded many Floridians of a similar disaster. The Sunshine Skyway Bridge disaster happened decades ago in the Tampa Bay area and the event was shocking. The tragedy brings back memories of exactly what happened when a freighter ship ran into the Sunshine Skyway Bridge almost 44 years ago.
The Sunshine Skyway Bridge Collapse: 43 Years Later:
According to WFLA, Tuesday morning at 1:30 a.m. Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge plunged into the river. The heavy bridge snapped after a container ship ran into the major bridge crashing into the water. The cargo ship appeared to ram directly into the main support of the bridge during the middle of the night. It seems that the ship lost power when it hit. There were several construction workers on the bridge at the time and cars were driving on top of it.
Currently, rescue efforts are trying to search for survivors. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said, “Never would you think that you would see, physically see, the Key Bridge tumble down like that. It looked like something out of an action movie.” He went on to call the incident “an unthinkable tragedy.” The disaster brings back memories of a similar collision that happened in Tampa Bay almost 44 years ago.
On May 9, 1980, sadly 35 people were killed after a ship hit the Skyway Bridge after getting lost in bad weather. A 19,734-ton Summit Venture freighter got lost in fog hitting the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. A Greyhound bus fell 150 feet into the water below killing everyone on board. However, Wesley MacIntire survived the horrible incident. His truck fell onto the freighter’s deck and then it hit the water afterward. They demolished the bridge and the new Sunshine Skyway Bridge was completed finally in 1987. All 35 victims are listed in a memorial that sits along the edge of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa Bay near the southern end of the rest area.
Florida Has 2 Of The Most Beautiful Bridges In The Country
Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Tampa
Connecting St. Petersburg to Terra Ceia, this bridge is 4.1 miles long. This stunning bridge over Tampa Bay is often lit up with colors that highlight the skyline. Furthermore, since 2018, there has been a Skyway 10K race that closes the bridge each year.
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Seven Mile Bridge, Florida Keys
This two-lane bridge is technically part of Route 1. It’s a magical gateway into the Florida Keys. Mr. Hudson points out, “the Seven Mile Bridge usually has space for sightseers to park up and admire the Florida Keys.” In 1982, a heavy renovation made the lanes wider, allowing for a safer and more comfortable drive. The last annual seven-mile bridge run took place this past April.
