On May 9, 1980, tragedy struck in Tampa, Florida, when a cargo ship from Liberia, the MV Summit Venture, collided with a support column of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge during a violent thunderstorm. The impact caused a 1,400 foot section of the southbound span to collapse into Tampa Bay.
A Greyhound bus and six cars plunged into the water, killing 35 people. The disaster shocked the nation and led to major reviews of bridge design and maritime safety.
Fun fact: The current Sunshine Skyway Bridge, completed in 1987, was built with a protective pier system to prevent future collisions and is now considered one of the safest and most architecturally iconic bridges in the United States.
A Greyhound bus and six cars plunged into the water, killing 35 people. The disaster shocked the nation and led to major reviews of bridge design and maritime safety.
Fun fact: The current Sunshine Skyway Bridge, completed in 1987, was built with a protective pier system to prevent future collisions and is now considered one of the safest and most architecturally iconic bridges in the United States.
