Traffic backed up on Sunshine Skyway Bridge after crash

Southbound traffic on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge was temporarily blocked on Monday night after a traffic accident sent a vehicle crashing into a barrier along the roadway.

Traffic on the bridge was reduced to one lane due to construction at the time of the crash, according to Florida Highway Patrol. Troopers say that around 7:15 p.m. a driver in a Honda SUV stopped to allow traffic to merge due to the road closure. However, a driver in a sedan traveling behind failed to stop, and the sedan hit the rear of the SUV.

After the impact, the sedan came to a rest in the roadway, while the SUV was launched onto the outside barrier wall of the bridge, according to FHP.

Photos shared by FHP show the badly damaged Honda perched on the concrete barrier with one side on the roadway and the other side dangling over Tampa Bay.

The 25-year-old St. Petersburg man driving the sedan and his passenger were uninjured, according to FHP, as was the 57-year-old Myakka City woman who was driving the SUV.

Florida Highway Patrol warned motorists on Interstate 275 South to expect delays and drive with caution in the area on Monday night following the crash.

This story was originally published December 28, 2020 at 9:38 PM.