On the morning of May 9th, 1980, the cargo freighter Summit Venture rammed the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa Bay, Florida. Harbor Pilot Captain John Lerro lost all visuals and radar during a terrible and violent microburst, and veered out of the channel. Thirty-five motorists plunged to their deaths after the south span of the bridge collapsed into the bay.
Recommended Reading:
Skyway: The True Story of Tampa Bay’s Signature Bridge and the Man Who Brought It Down, by Bill DeYoung
Tampa Bay
Sources:
- “Creating the Sunshine Skyway Memorial.” The Florida Bookshelf, The Florida Bookshelf, 8 May 2015, floridapress.blog/2015/05/08/author-guest-post-creating-the-sunshine-skyway-memorial/. Accessed 13 Apr. 2022.
- Melissa, Kelley. “A Chronicle of Tampa Bay’s Bridges.” Tampa Magazine, 18 May 2020, tampamagazines.com/a-chronicle-of-tampa-bays-bridges/. Accessed 13 Apr. 2022.
- Miller, Mike. “The Bee Line Ferry From Bradenton To St Pete.” Florida Backroads Travel, 2009, https://www.florida-backroads-travel.com/the-bee-line-ferry-from-bradenton-to-st-pete.html.
- “Old Sunshine Skyway Bridge.” Bridgehunter.com, 2013, bridgehunter.com/fl/pinellas/old-sunshine-skyway/. Accessed 13 Apr. 2022.
- OLIVER, MYRNA. “John Lerro, 59; Harbor Pilot Haunted by Role in Deadly Bridge Accident.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sept. 2002, www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-sep-09-me-lerro9-story.html. Accessed 13 Apr. 2022.
- “Maritime Matters | Middle District of Florida | United States District Court.” Uscourts.gov, 2022, www.flmd.uscourts.gov/maritime-matters. Accessed 13 Apr. 2022.
- “The Bee Line Ferry | Northeast Journal.” Northeast Journal | St. Petersburg, Florida Journal | Newspaper, 24 May 2019, northeastjournal.org/the-bee-line-ferry/. Accessed 13 Apr. 2022.
- “Skyway Bridge Collapse Disaster, May 9, 1980.” Skywaydisaster.com, 2022, skywaydisaster.com/books.htm. Accessed 13 Apr. 2022.
- https://stpetecatalyst.com/author/bill. “The Skyway Bridge Tragedy: “the Elements Had Control of That Vessel.”” St Pete Catalyst, 5 May 2021, stpetecatalyst.com/skyway-story-1-2/. Accessed 13 Apr. 2022.
- United States. National Transportation Safety Board. Marine Accident Report Ramming Of The Sunshine Skyway Bridge By The Liberian Bulk Carrier Summit Venture Tampa Bay, Florida. United States Dept of Commerce National Technical Information Service, 1981
- United States. United States Coast Guard. M.S. Summit Venture (Liberian Registry); collision with Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Tampa Bay, FL on 9 May 1980 with multiple loss of life. United States Dept of Transportation, 1981.
- Verdict Media Limited. “Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Florida, US – Verdict Traffic.” Roadtraffic-Technology.com, 2017, www.roadtraffic-technology.com/projects/sunshine-skyway-bridge-florida/. Accessed 13 Apr. 2022.
- “Skyway Disaster: A Span of Memories from May 9, 1980 – Anna Maria Islander.” Anna Maria Islander, 5 May 2015, www.islander.org/2015/05/skyway-disaster-a-span-of-memories-from-may-9-1980/. Accessed 13 Apr. 2022.