PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Thursday marks 44 years since the collapse of the original Sunshine Skyway Bridge.
A 608-foot freighter struck hit the bridge during a thunderstorm on the morning of May 9, 1980, causing more than 1,200 feet of the bridge to fall into the bay.
What You Need To Know
- Thursday marks 44 years since the collapse of the original Sunshine Skyway Bridge
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Seven vehicles and a greyhound bus fell 150 feet into the waters below, killing 35 people.
After the disaster, new protection measures were installed around the supports that hold the bridge up to protect it from similar tragedies in the future.
In March, some Bay area residents were reminded of the Skyway crash when the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed after it was struck by a cargo ship.
Six construction workers were killed after a cargo ship hit the bridge. The remains of all six of those victims have been recovered.
Maryland officials said there is about 3,000 to 4,000 tons of steel from the bridge on top of the Dali, the ship the crashed into the bridge.
As cleanup continues at the crash site, Maryland leaders say they plan to rebuild the bridge by 2028.