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updated: 05.18.20

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08.27.25, Heather S., facebook, My grandaddy drove for Greyhound and was on that same route but opposite days of the Greyhound driver that went overboard. This accident came close to changing our family's life.
• imagine his thinking after he heard the news.
• Heather S., my grandmother and I were in the kitchen when we heard and for a moment we had to think what route he was on. Our hearts stopped for a moment
• it wasn't like you could call his cell phone either. glad he missed that route.

05.09.25, facebook post, on this day, 45 years ago, friday, may 9, 1980, 7:33 am, a cargo ship crashed into the skyway bridge and knocked it down. 35 died and 1 survived the fall. comments:
• Jason S., I can only imagine how terrifying it must have been for those people. RIP
• Gail E., I remember that day a friend made it off bridge safely just before it was hit
• Jeff M., I went across that Bridge 5 or 10 minutes before this happened. Raining like Hell heading to the Tropicana plant in Bradenton to deliver tires from Bob Lee's Goodyear.
• Janice M., It was a devastating event. I was visiting the inlaws in Isla del Sol when it happened. The captain had NO visibility when the storm suddenly arose and fog covered the bridge.
• 05.10.25, Nina R., That coast guard audio is downright chilling to listen to. That dispatcher did an outstanding job. Poor Captain Lero, he really was another victim in all this. They called him a drunk and blamed him. He did the best he could in that situation. I think of that audio everytime I'm at that bridge.
• Robert R., Remember waking up to this and my parents glued to the TV.
That one survivor drove off the bridge and his truck hit the freighter’s deck instead of falling directly into the water. He later sued for $750,000 and settled for $175,000. I bet today that would have been 10's of millions.
• Mikey D., My high school classmate’s dad died. He was going to work from St. Pete to Sarasota for the first day at a new job. When in the cafeteria sheltering from the storm (we had a lot of portable/trailers) he was telling us and joking that his dad was going to be late for his first day on the job and that his first day might be his last day because he’d get fired.
• 05.13.25, Logan T., It’ll be another tragedy from that very bridge soon! My family does not travel that bridge at all ..being that my uncle has a bestfriend that’s an engineer who was onboard the team to “attempt” to repair the skyway back in 2016-2017’ish! That bridge has cracks from all the saltwater corrosion, but they said it would’ve been wayyyy too expensive to repair! The bridge is expected to collapse literally anyday now , but of course they rather prefer another tragedy & a tremendous insurance payout smh! But none of those engineers, nor the higher authorities, or any of their family members travel that bridge because they KNOW what’s yet to come.
• Rudy R., I believe you. Something with anything built on Florida regardless land or sea usually collapses especially crazy sink holes all over.
• Logan T., most definitely! But it’s sad , because if you know the bridge is expected to collapse literally anyday now why not just close the bridge down indefinitely? & just build another one! It’s crazy they rather always have a tragedy instead, rather just simply doing the right thing to save lives to begin with!

05.17.20, John Morrison, Venice, FL., My brother and I were on our way to work from Parrish to St. Pete the morning of May 9, 1980. It was a rainy, windy Friday. We went over the bridge and at the top it was shaking pretty hard and rocking back and forth. My brother said, "What would you do if the bridge fell down?"
We made it to the job site and work was postponed due to the rain, so we picked up our checks and headed home. We paid the 50 cent toll and as we pulled away from the toll booth the toll collector ran after us waving her arms and yelling at us, "Stop, STOP!" "Why? We paid." I said. Her eyes wide, she caught her breath and said, "The bridge just fell down."

05.27.18, Charlene Collins, Hickory, I've just run across this page 38 years after my father, Charles Lewis Collins, died in the Skyway Bride accident. I was 16 at the time and was up getting ready for school. We only had one bathroom so I had to wait for daddy as he was getting ready to go to a business breakfast meeting in Bradenton for work that morning. I know we must have talked but I can't remember what we said sadly. Still all these years later he is missed by me and his brothers and sisters. That day changed my life forever. Thanks for reading this. (we can not imagine how that day affected you and your family. truly sorry for your loss and how it occurred.)

05.09.18, Dana C., facebook, I was on that bridge when it happened. I was w my parents, brother & sister on our way to granny’s house on vacation. We were the 3rd car behind the gray hound bus that was rocking back & forth before it went off into the ocean below. I was standing n the back seat & looking out the window. I could see & hear the people n the car that was falling into the ocean yelling & screaming for help. I was 5 years old.

12.08.16, Steve S., I boarded a Greyhound bus in Gainesville which I believe to be the one that went off of the Skyway Bridge. I was on the way to Naples Florida where my parents lived. I got on the bus, then had a change of mind. I rarely went to class, yet didn't want to take criticism for not being in school in the middle of the week. I got off the bus and returned my ticket for a loss. Then next morning my roommates told me about the disaster. Just looking at your site, so thought you might like this info.

05.10.11, Tara H., Boston, MA., facebook, My grandfather, Robert D. Harding of Glens Falls, NY, was riding the Greyhound bus which fell into the bay. My Mother, an only child, learned of the loss of her father on the evening (late?) news that Mother's Day. My grandfather was returning home after a job of driving someone's (who chose to fly) car to Florida. The next day, my parent's picked us up early from school and we traveled to the hospital to tell my grandmother, who was recovering from a heart attack in the ICU. I was ten years old and vividly remember being told as I sat at the kitchen table. I started crying while staring at the cover of a math text book. The image of that book always comes to mind. This was experience with the death of a family member. At the wake/funeral I learned that the casket was closed because his body was contained in an insert inside. I vaguely remember my Mother calling it a ziggy. ... Thank you for letting me share.

02.10.08, jay, found on a blog since removed, Posted on 05/11/2007, My father is one of the passengers who died on the Greyhoud bus. "Melborne Russell" My mother and I were depicted in the Book named "Bridge Down" by Mair, George. I remember the day, 9 years old sitting in front of the coin operated television. Hearing the breaking news of the large freight ship hitting the bridge. My mother sobbing and screaming, the Greyhound attendant trying to console her. It was a defining moment in my life. My mother never remarried and I lost a father forever. As I grew older the bridge has always been apart of me. I was the first to cross the new bridge when they had a 3 mile grand opening foot race to memorialize the bridge. My company did Balance testing on the new bridge. My friend of many years lost his wife to suicide on the bridge. Another friend Lost his son to the bridge in a Romeo and Juliet style suicide. I caught a 7' hammerhead under the bridge. I suppose when it is time for me to leave this earth. What a more fitting way than for me to take my last (jay's post ends abruptly.)

09.13.05, Jay R., Sarasota, My father died on this bridge when I was 7, His name was Melbourne Russell, He was a passenger on the Greyhound bus coming from chicago when the Summit Venture hit the bridge. My Mother and I never were close, I was raised by my aunt. Well she has passed and I am trying to find as much info about my father as possible. The only Picture I have seen of him is when he was being pulled from the water by coast guard divers. He has the Black buckled boots. Every time i have searched I come to this site. I am having a hard time finding Information. I don't even know where he was buried. If anyone could help i would appreciate it. melissa and dave respond:
12.03.05, Melissa, Dallas, TX., This information is for Jay R., who was seeking more information about his father who died in the 1980 Skyway bridge accident. A quick search of the Social Security Death Index revealed that his father's full name was Melborn Leon Russell, born 16 Feb 1942 and had the Social Security Number [number withheld], applied for in Illinois. He can request a certified copy of his father's death certificate from the Florida Department of Health for $5.00 (including shipping; expedited shipping is available for an extra fee). Further information on it can be found at www.doh.state.fl.us/. I took a quick look at Find-A-Grave but it didn't turn anything up on where he's buried. (we passed this on to jay. thank you.)
12.30.07, Dave B., The following information is for Jay Russell (posted 9-13-05), son of one Melbourne L. Russell who perished in the 5-9-80 Sunshine bridege tragedy as a rider on a Greyhound Bus. Please follow the link here- summitventure pdf file Go to page number 7 of 26 in the pdf attachment. Your father was Married to one Julia Ann Russell. The body was sent to Sarasota Funeral Home @ 3340 Bee Ridge Rd. Sarasota, FL. His body was cremated by the Seacoast Crematory in Sarasota. Perhaps, this information will allow you to search records of these businesses and help you find closure.. May God bless you in your search and fill the void you are looking to fill. (we tried to pass this on to jay, but it was returned 'undeliverable'. perhaps he will check back here and update his email address. thank you.)