Fatal crash closes lanes on Florida’s Skyway Bridge, I-275. What to know about traffic

A 50-year-old motorcyclist from St. Petersburg was killed Thursday morning in a crash on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge that briefly closed the northbound lanes, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

After noon, officials started diverting all northbound traffic to the bridge for the crash investigation.

All lanes of traffic reopened by 3:30 p.m.

The crash happened at about 9:16 a.m. when the motorcycle was in the left lane behind an SUV and in front of an 18 wheeler, FHP said.

As the SUV slowed for traffic on the bridge’s descent, the motorcycle rear-ended the SUV.

The man was thrown from the motorcycle and run over by the tractor trailer, FHP said.

He was taken to the hospital, where he died of his injuries.

Both northbound lanes of the Skyway Bridge closed before 10 a.m, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles said in a tweet.

Traffic cameras showed a motorcycle overturned on the right shoulder near an 18 wheeler and SUV stopped in the left lanes of Interstate 275.

Traffic has resumed as normal for drivers headed north to St. Petersburg or Tampa from Bradenton and Manatee County.

This story was originally published March 2, 2023 at 10:25 AM.