Friday, May 10, 2013
Two people were rescued by Coast Guard crewmembers approximately one mile east of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on their 19-foot boat Thursday.
The U.S. Coast Guard rescued two people a mile east of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on May 9 after their 19-foot boat began taking on water near the center span of the bridge. According to the Coast Guard, members of Sea Tow contacted Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders at 4:47 p.m. Thursday, and reported the people aboard were in need of assistance. The crew of a 25-foot response boat from Coast Guard Station St.Petersburg arrived on scene and was able to control the flooding, a news release said. They placed the boat in tow and transported them to DemensLanding Marina in St. Petersburg. No injuries were reported, the Coast Guard said. Sign up for the Bradenton Patch email newsletter to get our top headlines delivered straight …
Thursday, July 5, 2012
After a woman jumped from the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Captain Kris Winkel picked her up from the waters of Tampa Bay.
Update: Read Kris Winkel's story about how he saved the woman's life. A Bradenton area fishing charter owner, Captain Kris Winkel, is being heralded as a hero for saving a woman's life after she jumped from the Sunshine Skyway Bridge Thursday morning. According to St. Petersburg Fire and Rescue, the woman survived the jump and was pulled from the water by a nearby fisherman around 7 a.m. today. Bradenton-born Winkel, was nearby and saw the commotion. Winkel drove to the woman and picked her up. According to authorities, the woman was then transported to Bayfront Medical Center where she is currently in stable condition. In a news release Captain Tim White, Incident Commander for SPFR said that the fishermen, “saved her life.” Winkel …
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
The four-mile span linking Pinellas and Manatee counties was closed since Sunday because of wind gusts from Tropical Storm Debby.
The Sunshine Skyway Bridge is now open to traffic. The Florida Highway Patrol reopened the iconic cable-stayed bridge at 3 a.m. Wednesday, after wind gusts decreased from up to 58 mph to 20-22 mph. The Skyway Bridge officially closed at 4 p.m. Sunday, as Tropical Storm Debby churned over the Gulf of Mexico, bringing thunder showers, tornados, high seas and strong winds. The three-day closure was one for the record books. Previously, the longest period the bridge stayed close was for eight hours on Sept. 14, 2001. Even on mild days, motorists driving across the tall bridge can feel vehicles shimmer in the wind. The bridge, with panoramic views of Tampa Bay, averages about 52,000 vehicles each day. For current traffic and road closure …
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
UPDATE: The Howard Frankland, Courtney Campbell and other area bridges are open. But troopers are keeping traffic off of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.
UPDATE: The Sunshine Skyway Bridge will stay closed overnight Tuesday, as wind gusts are clocked at 50 mph, making travel across the four-mile span unsafe. ORIGINAL POST, TUESDAY AFTERNOON: Area bridges, shut down due to flooded roads and high winds, are all open now – except for the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, spanning Manatee and Pinellas counties. The attached photos show bridge conditions today on the Howard Frankland and Courtney Campbell, including crash surf. The Skyway Bridge has stayed closed since 4 p.m. Sunday because of wind gusts that clocked up to 55 mph. Wind speeds today are measuring 47 mph, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Officials say the prolonged closing is unprecedented in the bridge's history. The only other …
Monday, June 25, 2012
High winds of 52 mph are keeping the Sunshine Skyway Bridge closed, with motorists encouraged to find alternate routes.
Updated, 11:34 p.m.: The Sunshine Skyway Bridge remains closed due to high winds, the Florida Highway Patrol announced just after 11 p.m. Monday. Earlier: The Sunshine Skyway Bridge, linking Manatee and Pinellas counties, will stay closed for now, as strong winds from Tropical Storm Debby continue to make traveling the roadway dangerous. The Florida Highway Patrol, which closed the bridge Sunday night, reports that winds are measuring up to 52 mph. I-275 is closed soutbound, with traffic diverted at State Road 682, which is the Pinellas Bayway. The steel and concrete bridge extends for four miles, spanning Tampa Bay. Motorists are being asked to find alternate routes of travel. The Skyway Bridge will stay closed until weather conditions …
Marie C
7:20 pm on Thursday, July 26, 2012
Not to sound depressing but who says she wanted to be saved? Maybe she is severely depressed. We don't know what she is going through. more ›