Palmetto man’s vehicle fire blocks Sunshine Skyway bridge

All northbound lanes of the Sunshine Skyway bridge have been reopened after being shut down at 2:31 p.m. Thursday because of a vehicle fire, according to Florida Highway Patrol.

Lanes reopened at 4:58 p.m. Thursday.

The vehicle crash was at mile marker 11 of Interstate 275, according to the FHP website.

According to a release, a 59-year-old Palmetto man was traveling in the inside northbound lane of the bridge approaching mile marker 14 when the right-rear tire blew, the driver lost control and the vehicle collided with the outside barrier wall. Troopers said the vehicle then became engulfed in flames.

The St. Petersburg Fire Rescue extinguished the fire, according to the release.

No injuries were reported, according to FHP.

Herald staff report

This story was originally published July 28, 2016 at 4:23 PM with the headline "Palmetto man’s vehicle fire blocks Sunshine Skyway bridge."