The Skyway Bridge Disaster 40 Years Later - The Dark History Of Tampa Bay
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 พ.ค. 2020
- The Sunshine Skyway Bridge disaster happened 40 years ago on May 9th, 1980. Please join me as we look into the history of this tragic event as well as some other dark and disturbing events that have occurred on Tampa Bay’s Skyway Bridge. There is much ahead.
News footage provided by Tampa’s Fox 13 News
May 9th, 1980
I had just started my shift that day. I entered a patients room, that had their tv on...That’s when I heard about the bridge being hit. Wow! 40 years passed so quickly! Great video. RIP to all souls lost.
What’s with the smiley face, dude.
Wow, that happened 40 years ago? Time indeed flies. I was finishing my freshman year at King High when the accident happened and I remember the interview of the gentleman from Manatee who stopped in the nick of time but he remembered the Trailways bus that had just passed him and always mentioned that when he was interviewed from time to time by the local media over the years.. Before the new bridge was built, the northbound bridge was converted to 2 way traffic and I remember a few years later how one of my college friends from Sarasota said his grandmother used to love to drive to Derby Lane and watch the greyhounds and that she refused to go over that bridge and would rather take 41 or 301 (Not all of I-75 was finished then, you had to get off 75 and catch 41 in Apollo Beach) thus turning a short jaunt into a long drive. I understand many avoided the old bridge back in the '80s. There was a lot of superstition tied to that old bridge Jay and as you pointed out a lot of people still try to jump off the new span...
Thanks for posting this, a lot of people did not know that 2 disasters happened at the same spot within months of each other. 1980 had Creature Feature and Championship Wrestling from FL on WTOG, Atari game consoles and Mattel football at home, cable TV with CNN and ESPN (MTV right around the corner) and the Bucs just had a worst to first year at the Old Sombrero! What you posted today was part of Tampa Bay history so thanks for putting it up for everyone to see, learn and remember!
Thank you for watching and tagging along with me ! I didn’t mention some of the numbers in the video but I’ll post them here. Skyway Disaster 35 deaths - Blackthorn Sinking 23 deaths - Jumpers 207 deaths
Morandi bridge, 44 deaths...
The Pilot of the freighter hit the Bridge before this fatal strike without much damage. The storm was short lived. He should have waited before going. Visibility was about ZERO. No one on the bridge knew the Bridge was down. I fished under the bridges for years before the accident.
Oh my goodness! 207 jumped to their deaths! That has outnumbered the other fatalities. That is really sad to know that these people were so critically sad and filled with sorrow and hopelessness. RIP
@@anacolon1142 An don't forget a little toddler was thrown off the new Sunshine Skyway Bridge when the police were chasing him. He picked up his little girl and threw her to her death while trying to run from police. They showed it on the news, happened several years ago, so much tragedy in that area
An don't forget a little toddler was thrown off the new Sunshine Skyway Bridge when the police were chasing him. He picked up his little girl and threw her to her death while trying to run from police. They showed it on the news, happened several years ago, so much tragedy in that area. So23 deaths than 35 deaths than 207 suicide death and at least 1 murder off the new bridge
I remember driving over that bridge for the first time and it is really quite an amazing structure. Kind of reminds me a bit of the 7 mile bride in the Keys but it's much higher at the top. Never knew about the ghost stuff but I do remember hearing about the tragedy on the news back in 1980. Very sad indeed.
So sad. God bless all of the people who lost their lives. That had to be so scary!
I had driven over it twice that night, and was planning on driving over it that morning, but the morning rain delayed getting my truck loaded.
Whoa good thing you were delayed buddy
Wow! Incredible.
My friend "Rusty" lost his mother and stepfather that fateful and horrific day.
Delores "Dorrie" Smith and Robert "Bob" Smith both from Pennsville NJ.
May all the victims rest in peace.
RIP sorry for his loss
I’m so sorry for your loss
Oh wow! So sorry to hear this about Rustys mom Dorrie and her husband Bob...what a tragic story! May they always rest in peace 🙏🏻.
This was my first watch on this channel and I thought it was so respectful for him to honor and memorialize the lives lost through these tragic events on this video. So refreshing to hear and I absolutely bowed my head and prayed as soon as he mentioned the first words! I'm telling him/you this because I want him/you to know that it wasn't in vain, and if more videos warrant the same, plz never stop remembering people. Thank you!
Oh and on that note...hmmm...if you're a local Tampa man and do historic videos I may come back here to ask you about a great aunt I never knew, because she was hit by a vehicle at 7 yrs old. But this would have been in the early 1900s and shortly after cars became a thing for the average person.
Thank You for the way you honored the lives of the people who perished that day.
Thank you Rhonda :)
I lived there in 1981 - 82 for a bit and the spooky thing about crossing the bridge was looking over at the remaining damaged bridge, because it was visibly next to you, and then all of a sudden it was not there..
I was just born in that year. I never new about this. What a terrible tragedy. May those people RIP.
*knew* not new.
Sad that lives we're lost .May they all Rest in peace.. Enjoyed the video
Kris K thank you Kris it was some sad stuff researching this one
It's *were* not we're (We are).
Your videos are so classy, edited brilliantly you must spend hours doing them. It really is appreciated let alone all the research thankyou soooooo much, it certainly makes such difference they are a class unto there own 👏👏👏
Mary Pettyfer Thank you so much Mary I appreciate you taking notice - it is time consuming but I love doing it. I’m having the time of my life
Never knew about any of these events , great vlog Jay . Also love the music at the end . Stay safe .
Growing up in Florida, I've heard about this story all my life, thanks for making this video!
Have you ever considered doing videos in Saint Augustine? I luh-luh Love that town. Rich with history and ghosts...lol
Thank you so much! I’m happy you enjoyed the video. Yes, I’ve actually spent a lot of time in Saint Augustine my brother went to Flagler College - I look forward to spending the weekend there sometime making videos. I love the spooky history there
I drove over the Sunshine Skyway bridge in July 1978 and I was terrified and almost stopped to do a U turn on the bridge!! Never forget that abject fear. As a child in backseat of parents' car, numerous times going over, I never felt that.
Thank you for doing this video. It is one of your best with all the news footage & details of the history of the old bridge..much of which I had missed regarding the two ships as we had been transferred to Maryland by then & got little info on the second accident & none on the first.
You have made a keepsake for me & I appreciate it very much..especially seeing the bit of land behind you as you signed off on the north end that my father dredged up before building the bridges between those little islands that is now a fishing pier. In the beginning of the construction of that bridge that was all open deep water & the builders went every morning on barges to where the dredging was done & later the bridge building of the low bridges he was responsible for.
I'm also happy to know that you & your friends have joined the many thousands before you enjoying fishing from there. Daddy would have loved that as he was an avid fishermen in both salt water & fresh but I believe he loved salt water fishing best.
Thank you again for this beautiful video!
Thank you so much Karen - that was very interesting I am fascinated with this stuff appreciate you telling me that
I’ve been over the Skyway many times, still not crazy about it. Great video of some history that others may not know about, love all of your videos, thanks for what you do Jay.
Thank you buddy they skyway is just awesome to be around very beautiful scenery down there
One of your best videos so far. Really well done!
Thanks Amanda - I’m glad you liked it :) I appreciate you !
Thanks for this video! I never knew about these accidents! Such horrible tragedies! You did a great job!
Jay, I always watch your videos and thumbs up them. I may not say much but I will start. I want to support your channel however I can. Love your videos and dedication to your channel.
Diz Jake hey buddy ! Thank you so much buddy I appreciate your support I’m happy to here you are enjoying them
I had completely forgotten about this tragedy…. it happened when I was a teen living Cal. And I had no idea about the coast guard sinking... I have already downloaded a couple of books on both to my Kindle to read up this weekend. Thanks for reminding us of what happened and taking us to the scene TJ !
Thank you Joe glad I could enlighten you a little bit more buddy
Wow dude!! Awesome video!! Great info!!
Thank you buddy
That was a well-made video and interesting to see the news reports from the day it happened. I was about two years old, but I remember hearing stories about it growing up and would see the existing Bridge under various stages of construction until it was completed in 1987. I've always been fascinated with the Skyway, enjoy driving down there, and never associated it with being cursed.
That said, I didn't realize what a tourist draw it was until I was at a convention in Tampa in the late 90s and met a group of people who drove all the way down there from the Busch Gardens area just to see the Skyway Bridge during their lunch break.
Great job on this video. The way you told the story and added the original footage was great.
Thanks Cody glad you enjoyed it :)
@@TampaJay I second Cody's assessment
Great video Jay! It felt like a documentary. Did not know about this tragedy.
Thank you buddy !
@@TampaJay Yeah no problem.
Well done Jay. Thank you for sharing that piece of history. 🙂👍
Thank you Vincent!
This is one of my favorite parts of Florida. I remember riding in a car over the old Skyway and looking across at the new bridge under construction. You didn't mention Steve Trotter's failed pendulum jump. That could be a video all on its own.
I didn’t know about that jump wow that’s crazy
Respect to you great video thankyou again
Good video! I have a friend who tells a hilarious story about her grandmother freaking out once she got so far up the bridge and attempted to back her car back down lol. I remember reading about the disaster in my local newspaper those 40 yrs ago.in my home state of Ohio and thinking how I’d never cross a bridge like that. Haha, little did I know both the 7 mile and the Skyway would become part of my life and I’d love them both 💙. May all the casualties over the years continue to RIP.
Isn’t it funny how that happens - I think that way all of the time and say “I never thought I’d live here”
Great video!!
heard about the bridge from a tiktok, came to youtube to learn some more. great video! very informative, thanks!
You’re welcome thanks so much for tuning in
Surreal intro man - dope music and visuals (also the end)! Bridge seems to have a really really bad vibe, TJ. But it's architecture is beautiful and seems to be massive. Nice respectful silence. Great video! Thanks TJ!
Thank you brother ! It was a fun one to make that going across the bridge
Very well done video
I were 17 at the time.I remember it due to being seriously injured during a school altercation 5 days later.That bridge was very defective and out of date.Like most of America infrastructure.My heart goes out to the families of all the victims of the collapse and all other victims.May all rest in peace.
I work with a fella grew up kinda in that area. Its interesting to hear first hand accounts of these major events.
Catfish Jones It’s crazy stuff man - crazy how life can change so suddenly
I was 20, in the Army and stationed in Seoul, Korea when this happened. Learned of it on the front page of the Pacific Stars & Stripes on May 10th, 1980. I only learned of what really happened in the late 2000s. And stories like this help me to understand what happened and what happened afterwards. Thank you for this story.
I remember watching news reports of the accident. A couple if years later, while on vacation with my dad, we drove over the old bridge and it was eerie as heck looking at the damaged part while driving over. Absolutely chilling. :/
I'm not from FL, but my parents lived in st pete before they moved up too pasco county. I've driven the skyway many times, visited the park and went on the fishing piers as well. It's beautiful, but it's history is definitely tragic
My Grandpa went over the Skyway an hour before this happened his mom called him in frantic to see if he was ok. I was born in 87 but he told me the story when I was little.
That’s so scary I’m glad he made it wow. Btw we were born the same year! Thanks for watching
That happened almost in sync with the Mt St Helens eruption . We drove across the unharmed span in 1982 and you could look over and see the damaged span, and it was so surreal.
No dude, Mt St. Helens erupted 10 days later May 19, 1980
I was 4 when that happened, my memories of that day are vague. However as a kid my father would drive over the unaffected span and it was so scary looking over at the collapsed side.
I can imagine how scary that must’ve been. It’s the only thing I think about every time I drive or the current bridge.
Thanks for sharing I went to the same high school with one of the greyhound victims ALPHONSO BLIDGE we played football for Miami Senior High he was a great athlete, very intelligent student, & just a down to earth good person it hurt my heart to have heard the news.😢 R.I.P
At first I didn't know what you were doing at the end there. That was cool with the Tangerine Dream action.
Never knew this story until now. Guess i was only 5 at the time. Haven't been across this bridge in years, but the golden gate bridge has the same phones and signs that say don't jump. Sad people are in that state of mind to do that. May all rest in peace .
Nice video - thank you. I know it wasn't in 1980, but another piece of darkness involving the Skyway was the murder of his daughter, Phoebe, by John Jonchuck when he tossed her over from the Dick Misener area of the bridge. But your video was nicely and respectfully done...
Thank you so much my friend. That tragedy crossed my mind, but it is still kind of a fresh wound so I did not know if I should mention or not.
RIP, for all those lost and perished.
Doesnt that just make you feel old? 1980 was 40 years ago ;( I remember when it was only 15 years ago
Your awesome Tampa Jay❤️❤️ stay safe out there on your traveling 🧭❤️❤️💋💋
The Skyway bridge disaster that took down the old skyway bridge was a freak of nature coupled with a freighter in a location and wind and low visibility caused the ship to collide during rush hour traffic. I saw the news cast of the event while in college.
I was 8 years old at he time, don't remember it, but very tragic none the less...curse you bridge!
In 2012 I was in a Super Shuttle heading from TPA to Sarasota. Maybe 10 pm. A car ahead of us stops mid-span, a woman climbs out, goes to the railing and jumped over.
Wow. And people say the Bermuda Triangle is cursed. This skyway is cursed. And a hitchhiking ghost? I see one of HM ghosts found a new home for the time being. May those who lost their lives rest in peace
It’s definitely got some bad ju ju man crazy stuff
Two identical bridges side by side. The first was completed in 1954 and the second bridge was finished in 1969. The newer west structure was the part that fell. It was narrow and scary especially during the 2 lane era. You could not walk on the elevated span.
Such a sad story I never knew about that I was 7 when it happened RIP All that was lost
I never knew they considered this bridge haunted
Gantries with signals and barrier gates were installed on the remaining 1954 (northbound) span not long after the collapse. They were situated at the base of each approach to the main shipping channel. A wire was also installed in the base of the bridge that ran for its entire length. If another ship impact were to occur, the wire would be vibrated or severed, thus sounding an alarm in the bascule bridge operators office and changing the signals to red.
I was 8 at the time when this happened. We had went over the Skyway bridge the day before.
I think I've heard the music on the opening what song is that?
So sad 😞
thousand yrs from now we gonna have to put the time of day each tragedy takes place
Ohhhhh I definitely miss the area!! 😍
Where did you go?
Can you please tell me if the monument for the Skyway disaster is on the Pinellas County end of the bridge?
Yes, Pinellas side right in-front of the restrooms at the rest stop
@@TampaJay Thank you so much. I'll be sure to visit it the next time I'm in Florida. There were 4 people from my province in Canada that lost their lives that day 40 years ago. Great video btw!!!
B Howse Glad I could help thank you so much. I’m sorry about your friends 🤗
That is truly the scariest bridge I've ever crossed.. including the 7 Mile bridge!
Rest In Peace
I didn't know anything about this until just about an hour ago when I saw a post on Facebook. I was 10 Years Old when The Skyway Bridge accident. And also the Military Ship that sank, I was 10 Years Old so I really wasn't involved in the News, or watching the News.
I live in Florida and have never known about this bridge or the tragedy.
Happy to enlighten you with some Florida history my friend, such a tragedy though. Glad you caught the video thanks for watching :)
I remember this and to this day do not understand why the Summit Venture even attempted to enter port knowing there would be a bridge they had to transit under. Visibility was zero, gale force winds, heavy rain - why did they have to go in to port when it is standard procedure for ships to anchor in deep waters out at sea to ride out a storm? Side Note: there was a survivor in one of the vehicles that fell into the bay Wesley MacIntire whose truck struck the Summit Venture before hitting the water. He was pulled out of the bay by the ship's crew and from 1980 until his death in 1989 he would drive over the bridge every year on the anniversary in memorial of those who died that day. The Summit Venture was sold several times and was last owned by a Chinese shipping company based out of Hong Kong name Jian Mao International. They renamed the ship Jian Mao 9 which sank in 2010.
May 3rd 6 days before may 9th at may 3rd in 1999 in Oklahoma moore in 99 was struck by an record breaking tornado that had winds of 318 mph
That is such a big ship just looks like little debree on it when it literaly took construction crews to pull the bridge off the ship sad lot of jumpers hear almost more the gold gate some where i read good job remebering this disastor in a varry respectable way for victoms im shour their are people who hate this bridge atleast once a day still and people who loved one victoms it feels like yesterday .love history youtube documentrys are the best .
Did you see the signs on the rest areas leading towards the bridge that say '24 HOUR ARMED SECURITY"? I have traveled in major cities in the US my whole adult life (NYC, Boston, Dallas, LA, Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago, Toronto, Montreal) and have never seen anything like this in any of them.
Scariest bridge I've ever driven on during a heavy fog.
I almost lost my father
I use to dream of this bridge when i was a kid all the time i remember standing and looking over at this bus welp this my past life i just dont know who i was
Crazy shit. Never heard this story before
What happened to the old skyway bridge in st petersburg Tampa jay?
Do a 24 hour fishing video of you and your friends at the pier
Are you going to be there tomorrow? I plan on it.
Wow!
Mark Langenkamp thanks buddy
When I moved to Florida in 2014. A father threw his 5 year old daughter off the bridge.
Yep I remember that, a guy I work with almost made the final cut for the jury
My wife hates going over the new bridge.
Huh my pop was suppose to take a bus that turned out to be that exact greyhound bus that was on the bridge.
Oh wow that’s so scary glad he stayed behind
My grandfather (Robert Harding of Glens Falls, NY) was on the bus and the story was he switched tickets with a man who wanted to get home to his family. I don’t know if it’s true but am glad for your dad! Tampa Jay, thank you for the moment of silence and respectful coverage.
Tampa Jay happy mother's day to your mom bro 💯😎🎂☺️
Thank you buddy same to yours!
I realized my (until then unknown) deep fear of bridges over water at the age of 14 while riding over that bridge (the new one). Didn’t know the history until years later. It gives me nightmares to this day if I have to go over that bridge! Hazard for a Tampa local with this fear....lol
It has always been an eerie feeling for me too. So many have passed there. Thanks for watching
@@TampaJay love your channel! But...I did have to click off when you started driving over at the end...sorry. Lol! BTW...Was the camera strapped to the bumper?
It’s no worries I totally get it. Thank you my friend I appreciate you glad to hear you enjoy the videos
Crossed the bridge at night watching cruise ships go under...pretty sight
It is a breathtaking view up there
Tampa Jay on this video, "JOB WELL DONE!"
Thank you so much Thom
Why did it take 35 years for a memorial plaque to be recognized!
I was there earlier this year. Can someone tell me what that awful smell is? It smelled like hot garbage, swimming in fish, splashed with sewer...What was that?
no wonder my moms is so scared to go over the skyway bridge
She's not the only one!
I hate that bridge. White knuckles on the steering wheel the whole way.
My parents weren’t even thought of when this happened meanwhile y’all were close to retirement then
In later years the Summit Venture ship sank.
Damn the bridge and water are definitely cursed😮... But hope ship never hit the bridge again !!
8:48 months after this video someone threw a 5 year old off it as well.
I thought salt water eroded concrete.
my bday being may 9th : 👁👄👁
I’ll tell you what, that curse of the skyway doesn’t involve fishing 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻
Here in 2023 after watching the new horror and sci-fi con video
If I was to fall off that bridge I would literally shit my pants not even kidding
Not to be a bummer...but, there was also that POS Dad, John Jonchuck, he threw his beautiful 5 year old daughter off the bridge in 2010.
Both sides are open now
I've been over that bridge many times & never knew about it collapsing. My family moved to the Tampa area in the 70s (St. Pete, then Tarpon Springs) & I was born in 1981, a year after the bridge collapse. My Grandpa, Dad & uncles had shrimp boats & later on switched to the more lucrative Sponge Diving. Even after my Mom & I moved back to KY, I would fly down during the summers to work on their sponge boat. I have always wanted to move back & tried to with my girlfriend in 2014 but she got homesick so we came back to KY