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skyway vehicle incidentsvehicle mishaps occur on and along the skyway corridor, 2016 on.updated: 12.09.23 |
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links could be broken at any time. (our comments follow) |
| 12.06.23: police chase turns into 3x fatal wrong way accident. | ||||
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12.06.23, iontb/fb, Sunshine Skyway Bridge: Extrication crash SB MM 13. All SB lanes blocked, traffic getting by via North Rest Area ramps. Confirmed fatality from high speed head on collision. Driver of vehicle was fleeing from law enforcement. Three trauma alert patients transported to Bayfront Health. comments: • Heather B., I was just in this.. I watched the high speed chase. The cop tried to block him on the bridge Then he turned around on the bridge ran in to the wall and continued and almost hit us going the wrong way at 120mph at least! later: • Heather B., ···He didn’t care about his life or others. I was ubering home from the airport with my children and this mustang came flying past us @ 120 his force physically moved our car off the road as we are heading towards the bridge. He made it half up the bridge and the cop tried to block him when he realized he wouldn’t be able to manuver around the cars on the bridge & turned around. Going the wrong way on the bridge He then hit the cop and the cop tried to reverse to hit him and then he Rand into the wall on the bridge & then full force gunned it just missing our car by a centimeter. I knew it wouldn’t be long before he hit someone head on at that speed and with that mentality he must have had. I feel so sorry for the innocent people that were involved it was absolutely terrifying. 12.09.23, iontb.com, (updated 12.07.23 article), Uber Driver and Two Passengers Killed in Collision with Fleeing Stolen Mustang on Skyway Bridge. On Wednesday, December 6, 2023, at 10:46 PM, FHP Troopers responded to a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office request for assistance concerning a stolen Ford Mustang. The driver, identified as 22-year-old Leosvany Arias Roman of Hialeah, Florida, engaged in a series of incidents on I-275. On Wednesday, December 6, 2023, at approximately 10:20 p.m., HCSO Auto Theft Task Force members observed Leosvany Arias Roman, 22, while in the county driving a white Ford Mustang reported stolen by the Tampa Police Department. In an attempt to arrest Roman, deputies approached him after he parked in front of a business located at 2919 West Columbus Drive within city limits. Starting the car up, he made the wrong decision to ram two HCSO vehicles and fled the area. "This criminal had no regard for human life. Our deputies, facing danger, had to jump out of the way of a man they feared would run them over to get away," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "The additional charges he faces will ensure the only road he’s ever on again is the one that leads straight to jail." Leosvany Arias Roman is facing charges from HCSO for his crimes in Hillsborough County. His driver’s license photo is attached. A second suspect, Mohammed Ali Pujol, 30, sitting in a silver Mercedes sedan parked next to the white Mustang, placed his vehicle into drive and sped towards an HCSO deputy who managed to jump out of the way. Tampa Police Officers assisted by attempting a traffic stop and ultimately used stop sticks on the 3300 block of North Nebraska Avenue and arrested Pujol. He, too, is facing several felony charges from HCSO for his crimes. After ramming an HCSO patrol vehicle and colliding with an FHP vehicle on the Skyway Bridge, the Mustang traveled northbound in the southbound lanes. Radio communications indicated the driver was traveling at speeds over 140mph. Near the 13 Milepost, a fatal head-on collision occurred with a Dodge Caravan, resulting in the death of the Uber driver (33-year-old male from Bradenton, Florida) and one passenger (52-year-old male from Columbiana, Ohio). Two other passengers, a 51-year-old female and a 24-year-old male, both of them from Ohio, sustained serious injuries. The 51-year-old female passenger died overnight from her injuries. The Mustang’s driver also sustained serious injuries. The 27-year-old FHP Trooper involved suffered minor injuries. The driver, Leosvany Arias Roman, faces charges including Felony 1st degree Murder, Vehicular Homicide, Aggravated Fleeing & Eluding Involving Death, Driving While License Suspended Involving Death, and Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer. Additional charges pending due to the death of the third victim. The incident led to the closure of southbound I-275 until 6:40 a.m. on Thursday, December 7, 2023.   
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12.08.23, teamhcso.com, SUSPECT IN DEADLY SUNSHINE SKYWAY BRIDGE CRASH RECEIVES ADDITIONAL CHARGES,
release #23-222 The suspect in the deadly crash on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge is now facing additional charges for his crimes earlier in the evening. An accomplice is also facing charges. On Wednesday, December 6, 2023, at approximately 10:20 p.m., HCSO Auto Theft Task Force members observed Leosvany Arias Roman, 22, while in the county driving a white Ford Mustang reported stolen by the Tampa Police Department. In an attempt to arrest Roman, deputies approached him after he parked in front of a business located at 2919 West Columbus Drive within city limits. Starting the car up, he made the wrong decision to ram two HCSO vehicles and fled the area. "This criminal had no regard for human life. Our deputies, facing danger, had to jump out of the way of a man they feared would run them over to get away," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "The additional charges he faces will ensure the only road he's ever on again is the one that leads straight to jail." Leosvany Arias Roman is facing charges from HCSO for his crimes in Hillsborough County. His driver's license photo is attached. Media is advised to contact the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office for a booking photo of Roman. A second suspect, Mohammed Ali Pujol, 30, sitting in a silver Mercedes sedan parked next to the white Mustang, placed his vehicle into drive and sped towards an HCSO deputy who managed to jump out of the way. Tampa Police Officers assisted by attempting a traffic stop and ultimately used stop sticks on the 3300 block of North Nebraska Avenue and arrested Pujol. He, too, is facing several felony charges from HCSO for his crimes. This is still an active investigation. Any new information will come from the HCSO Public Affairs Office. 
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| facebook article posts |
| 06.16.23: vehicle accident. |
06.16.23, iontb/fb, Skyway Bridge: Vehicle crash blocking southbound lanes of the bridge south of the hump. Fire rescue crews responding.
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| 04.17.23: vehicle accident. |
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04.17.23, iontb/fb, Skyway Bridge: Wrecker rear-ended by semi fully involved SB before hump all lanes blocked. 04.17.23, iontb.com, Truck’s mechanical issue on Skyway Bridge leads to a fire and crash involving a tractor-trailer. Florida Highway Patrol Troopers continue to investigate a vehicle fire on the Skyway Bridge. The incident occurred in the bridge’s southbound lanes at approximately 5:35 p.m. on Monday, April 17, 2023. A 27-year-old Bradenton man was operating a Dodge Ram 5500 southbound on the Skyway Bridge in the inside lane. The Dodge suffered a mechanical issue when its driveshaft broke, sending large flames around the truck. The driver stopped and exited the vehicle, which rolled backward and collided with a tractor-trailer that was driven by a 34-year-old Miami man. The driver of the Dodge suffered minor injuries, and the tractor-trailer driver was not injured. The incident closed all southbound lanes until one outside lane was reopened at about 6:11 p.m.  |
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03.02.23: vehicle accident, 9:15am Ty Weaver, 50 |
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03.02.23, tampabay.com, 3 Daughters head brewer killed in motorcycle crash on Sunshine Skyway bridge, company says. 3 Daughters Brewing owner Mike Harting confirmed to the Tampa Bay Times the 50-year-old motorcyclist killed in the collision Thursday was Ty Weaver. The head brewer at St. Petersburg’s popular 3 Daughters Brewing was killed in a crash on the Sunshine Skyway bridge Thursday morning, company owner Mike Harting confirmed to the Tampa Bay Times. The Florida Highway Patrol hasn’t named the 50-year-old motorcyclist who sustained fatal injuries in the crash, which took place at about 9:15 a.m. in the northbound lanes. However, Harting said it was Ty Weaver. "Ty was an exceptional person whose talent, dedication and love for the art of brewing were unmatched," Harting wrote in a statement sent to the Times. "He will be dearly missed by his friends and the community surrounding 3 Daughters. We respectfully ask for privacy for his family during this time of grief." According to troopers, the collision happened after the driver of an SUV slowed for traffic on the bridge and was hit from behind by the motorcyclist, who "separated from the motorcycle" and was "overrun" by a tractor-trailer, the Highway Patrol reported in a news release. Neither the driver of the SUV, a 55-year-old Wimauma woman, nor the driver of the tractor-trailer, a 57-year-old man from Columbus, Fla., were injured in the crash, troopers said.
 facebook article posts |
| 03.29.22: vehicle accident. |
03.29.22, iontb/fb, Skyway Bridge: Crash southbound I-275. Left lane blocked. later: Motorcyclist involved. Non life-threatening injuries.
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03.06.22:
skyway 10k head-on crash. Kristen Kay Watts, 52 |
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03.06.22,
iontb.com, Trooper injured in DUI crash after woman collides head-on into agency vehicle near south toll booth of Skyway Bridge. Multiple public safety agencies were dispatched to a vehicle crash involving a FHP trooper at approximately 8:45 a.m. on Sunday, March 6, 2022. Kristen Kay Watts, age 52 of Sarasota, was operating a 2011 BMW 335i northbound on I-275 at a high rate of speed, approaching a road closure in place due to the Armed Forces Skyway 10K Race. She failed to stop or detour onto US-41 as directed; instead the vehicle drove through numerous traffic cones and around other barricades with State Officers present. The Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop of the vehicle which continued northbound on I-275. Failing to stop for the State Officers, The BMW encountered two additional FWC Officers assigned to guard the Toll Plaza. Once again, she failed to stop, and continued through the Toll Plaza. She then encountered two FHP Troopers who were responding southbound in the northbound lanes of I-275 from the south rest area to intercept the vehicle and protect the thousands afoot on the Skyway Bridge. As the BMW approached the two Troopers, both stopped in the travel lanes and within moments the BMW collided nearly head-on with one of the Troopers operating a 2019 Chevy Tahoe. The collision caused serious injuries to both drivers who were transported to an area hospital and closed the northbound lanes of I-275 for several hours. Watts was later arrested by FHP Troopers for DUI Serious Injury. Watts was transported to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg as a trauma alert. The 47 year-old female Trooper, with serious injuries, was transported to a local trauma center.    03.06.22, fox13news.com, FHP: DUI driver bypassed roadblocks, crashed into cruiser guarding Skyway 10K race Sunday morning.
06.02.22, baynews9.com, Accused drunk driver in Skyway 10k crash deemed incompetent to stand trial. MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — The woman accused of driving drunk and crashing into a state trooper on the Skyway Bridge during a 10k run event has been deemed incompetent to stand trial. Kristen Kay Watts is the accused drunk driver. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 52-year-old Watts was traveling northbound on I-275 while approaching road closures for the race on March 6. Watts failed to stop or detour onto US-41 and drove through several traffic cones and barricades put in place for the 10K. When troopers attempted to pull over Watts, she continued northbound on SR-93 while failing to stop for them and additional FWC officers assigned to the toll plaza. After going through the plaza, Watts then approached two responding southbound troopers in the northbound lanes of SR-93 that were attempting to intercept her and protect the thousands of runners in the race on the Skyway Bridge. Watts collided nearly head-on with Trooper Toni Schuck’s cruiser. She was the last line of defense to the Skyway 10K runners and placed herself in harm's way to protect others. Schuck was hospitalized after the crash and continues to recover. Watts is facing charges of DWI with serious bodily injury, DUI damage to property and reckless driving with property damage. 09.26.23, court document. 5 page pdf 10.11.23, mysuncoast.com, SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - The Sarasota woman will accept a plea deal. Under the plea deal, Kristen Kay Watts will plead guilty to misdemeanor DUI. She won’t be convicted of a felony but the conviction will remain on her record. In October of 2022, Kristen Kay Watts was deemed competent to stand trial, a ruling that reversed a decision made in June. Watts was committed to a mental health treatment facility. In March 2022, the Florida Highway Patrol says Watts drove through barricades set for the Sunshine Skyway Bridge 10K, heading toward the race route. Trooper Toni Schuck put her patrol SUV into Watts’ path, authorities said, to protect racers. They collided head-on. Troopers say they could smell the odor of alcohol on Watts’ breath. The police report said Watts was only able to participate in one sobriety exercise and showed obvious signs of impairment around her eyes. According to a probable cause affidavit, a blood sample was taken from Watts at 11:07 a.m. Hospital staff told investigators the test indicated Watts’ blood alcohol level was 0.271. The legal limit for drivers in Florida is 0.08. Attorneys for Watts note that she was dealing with paranoia, hallucinations and psychotic episodes prior to the incident. Her sentencing will be held Nov. 6 at 1:30 p.m. 11.09.23, bradenton.com, Driver in Sunshine Skyway trooper crash faces a hearing. Here’s what’s new in the case. A Sarasota woman who was expected to plead guilty of hitting a Florida trooper’s vehicle during a 10K running race on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge will next appear in court in December. Kristen Watts, 53, briefly appeared before Circuit Court Judge Charles Sniffen in a Manatee County courtroom on Thursday, but the hearing was postponed until Dec. 14. Earlier in the week, on Monday, Watts also was scheduled to enter a guilty plea at a hearing and face sentencing, but the hearing was canceled. Watts also appeared in court before Sniffen on Oct. 25, when she was expected to plead guilty to charges of driving under the influence and fleeing and eluding law enforcement, but the judge said he preferred to handle the plea and sentencing in one hearing. If there is no plea, a trial could be scheduled for February, Sniffen said. In March 2022, Watts was arrested on Interstate 275 after she blew a barricade and failed to stop for law enforcement, crashing into a highway trooper’s SUV. The bridge was shut down to traffic for the Skyway 10K, an annual race that raises money for charity. The race had 8,000 runners participating, organizers of the charity event said. Dashcam footage released by FHP showed Watts’ BMW 335i sedan speeding north on I-275 and avoiding one cruiser attempting to block her passage before she crashed head-on into the patrol vehicle of Trooper Toni Schuck. Several officers tried to stop Watts as she sped closer to the runners on the bridge. Schuck then positioned her SUV as the last line of defense between a rogue driver and the pedestrians on the Skyway, the Bradenton Herald previously reported. "I was the last officer. I knew it was me. If it wasn’t me to get her to stop, then who?" Schuck said at a 2022 news conference. Both Schuck and Watts were seriously injured in the crash. |
| 11.30.21: vehicle accident. |
11.30.21, iontb/fb, Skyway Bridge: Lane blockage northbound I-275 on the bridge due to a reported vehicle crash. Fire Rescue crews enroute. |
| 12.28.20: suv spins and winds up on bridge barrier after rear-end collision. |
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12.29.20, tampabay.com, By Dennis Joyce,
ST. PETERSBURG — A 57-year-old Myakka City man escaped injury when a car rear-ended his sport utility vehicle, sending it spinning across the Sunshine Skyway Bridge before it came to rest on top a concrete barrier. The collision occurred about 7:15 p.m. Monday about four miles south of the Pinellas Bayway, where the span bends toward the southeast. The SUV driver was headed south in the outside lane of the bridge when he stopped for construction work, the Florida Highway Patrol said. A car behind him, driven by a 25-year-old St. Peterburg man, failed to stop and collided with the rear of the SUV, causing it to rotate onto the outside barrier wall. Both men as well as a passenger in the car were wearing seatbelts. No one was injured.  |
| 05.16.20: motorcycle accident |
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05.16.20, iontb/fb • iontb.com, Two seriously injured following rear tire blowout on motorcycle while traveling on the Skyway Bridge. The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) continues to investigate a crash that occurred at approximately 12:57 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, 2020. The crash occurred as a motorcyclist was traveling northbound on the Pinellas side of the Skyway Bridge. Troopers report that the motorcycle sustained a rear tire blowout causing the 71 year-old male driver to lose control and overturn. Both the male driver and the 57 year-old passenger were ejected. They were both transported via ambulance to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg with serious injuries. Trooper say both occupants were wearing helmets at the time of the crash.  |
| 04.15.20: accident |
 
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04.15.20, flhsmv.gov/fhp, SKYWAY BRIDGE NB, DispatchTime: 17:26
ArriveTime: 17:35 Notes: w/ INJURIES AND ROADBLOCK 04.15.20, Hillsborough Sheriff, TRAFFIC CRASH - WITH INJURIES, 17:25, 17:35 |
04.14.20, iontb/fb, Skyway Bridge: Rollover crash in Manatee County in the northbound lanes of I-275 North at MM 10. Left lane blocked heading into Pinellas. |
| 02.28.20: car fire |
02.28.20, iontb/fb, Skyway Bridge: Vehicle fire northbound travel lanes affected atop the bridge. Expect delays. #MoveOver •Cree W.,  •Brandi P.,  02.28.20, bradenton.com, Car fires shuts down part of Sunshine Skyway during rush hour A car fire Friday afternoon shut down the northbound lanes of Interstate 275 at the Sunshine Skyway Bridge Friday afternoon, backing up traffic for miles. The fire, reported at about 4:15 p.m., was at the top of the span of the bridge over Tampa Bay. As of 7 p.m., the bridge was reopened. |
| 02.13.20: accident |
02.13.20, iontb/fb, Skyway: Crash reported in the northbound lanes of the Skyway Bridge. Expect delays. |
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