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the skyway bridge disaster

images from the 05.09.80 tragedy • updated: 05.09.20
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'summit venture' hits the west span of the skyway bridge.
videos and articles about the collapse.

larger image.
















bridge support pier impacted by the 'summit venture', bringing the structure down.


1986


'summit venture' with skyway debris. image from wtsp.com


'summit venture' with skyway debris. image from wtsp.com


"The M/V Summit Venture is a bulk carrier built in 1976, in Nagasaki, Japan. She is 579.8 feet long, beam of 85.5 feet, and displacement of 19,734 tons. She would cruise (loaded) at 13.5 knots at 100% power and 10.9 knots at 50% power." more: google.com
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victim recovery
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vehicle recovery











bus hoisted from barge. note involved cars on barge deck. image from tbo.com
 
the following car images link to larger versions.
photos by Dick Bell at the 'St. Petersburg Times Evening Independent'.

left: 1973 Ford LTD, occupants: Harry and Hildred Dietch
right: 1980 Chevrolet Citation, occupants: Doris and John Carlson
 

1974 Ford Courier pickup. Wesley Macintire somehow managed to escape
from this after it slammed into the ship and then careened into the water.

 

top left: 1973 Ford LTD, occupants: Harry and Hildred Dietch
top right: 1976 Chevrolet El Camino, occupant: James Pryor
bottom left: 1980 Ford Fairmont, occupant: Charles Collins
bottom right: 1979 Chevrolet Nova, occupant: Leslie Coleman
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car with four occupants stops just short of going off.
image from tbo.com


image from tampabay.com












preparing to pull the car from the bridge.
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the steel mesh road grating made for an exciting drive for some, fearful for others.


1980: removing debris after the collapse.




a business advertisement/souvenir bridge bolt encased in plastic. larger


larger


larger


dismantling the old bridges.
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collision timeline.

image from tampabay.com
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05.01.81: images we took of the damaged bridge.



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videos and articles about the collapse.
 
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