Tornado strikes U.S. mail tractor-trailer on Sunshine Skyway Bridge

MANATEE -- Mail was scattered over land and water Sunday morning when a U.S. Postal Service tractor-trailer was struck by a tornado on the northbound Sunshine Skyway Bridge approach Sunday morning.

The semi was northbound on I-275 at mile-marker No. 7 just before 10 a.m. when a waterspout came ashore as a tornado and twisted the semi's trailer. A witness reported seeing the trailer lift off the ground.

The driver was not injured, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Mail was being collected from the road, shoulder and water, according to witnesses.

Sunday afternoon, Florida Highway Patrol said a nearby construction site was damaged and small boat in the water overturned. There was minor damage but no injuries.

Bay News 9 meteorologist Josh Linker noted that tornadoes are usually associated with thunderstorms. What happened Sunday was mainly a waterspout, and it was only associated with a small shower that had no lightning.

"It just happened to cross the road," he said. "If it didn't cross the road, nobody would even know about it except the people taking pictures. It was a really interesting and potentially scary situation."

This story was originally published October 11, 2015 at 1:59 PM with the headline "Tornado strikes U.S. mail tractor-trailer on Sunshine Skyway Bridge ."