[03-02-23] Motorcyclist Killed in Crash on Sunshine Skyway Bridge

March 2, 2023
5:37 pm

A motorcyclist was killed in a crash on the Sunshine Skyway bridge Thursday morning, the Florida Highway Patrol reported.

The crash occurred about 9:15 a.m. in the northbound lanes. The driver of an SUV slowed for traffic on the bridge and was hit from behind by a motorcyclist. The rider “separated from the motorcycle” and was “overrun” by a tractor trailer, the Highway Patrol reported in a news release.

The motorcyclist, who troopers said was a 50-year-old St. Petersburg man, was taken to a hospital, where he died.

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.

The names of the people involved were not released by the Highway Patrol.

Source : Tampa Bay Times

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MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT STATISTICS

Florida is considered one of the most dangerous states for motorcycle riders. Motorcycle fatalities in Florida have more than doubled over the past twenty years. According to The National Highway Safety Administration, motorcycle riders continue to be overrepresented in fatal traffic crashes. In 2020 in the US, there were 5,458 motorcycle fatalities and 84,000 motorcycle accident-related injuries. Some additional numbers and facts from Florida High Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) and Ride Smart Florida: Motorcycles account for only 3% of registered motor vehicles but represent 17% of traffic crash deaths in Florida, with the state observing a total of 8,045 motorcycle crashes in 2020 and 8,614 crashes in the year 2021. That upwards trend is unfortunately present with the rate of motorcycle fatalities with Florida seeing 578 motorcycle fatalities in 2021 which is an increase from the 572 fatalities observed in 2020. Several factors cause these collisions. The leading causes of motorcycle accidents are failure to yield and speeding. Here are a few other common dangerous driving behaviors that can lead to a collision with a motorcycle:

Left turns (made by vehicle operators)
Reckless driving
Distracted driving
Speeding
Driving while intoxicated
Driving in inclement weather
Wrong-way driving
Failing to obey traffic laws
Motorcycle lane splitting

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