FLORIDA — A motorcyclist is dead following a crash Sunday afternoon on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Troopers said the crash occurred just before 1 p.m. on Easter Sunday, shutting down all northbound lanes of the bridge and causing significant traffic congestion in the southbound lanes.
According to investigators, the driver of a Spyder three-wheeled motorcycle took “evasive action to avoid a collision with an unknown vehicle,” and lost control of the motorcycle.
Authorities said the motorcycle traveled onto the shoulder, struck the outside guardrail and was redirected back into the roadway, where it came to a stop in the outside northbound lane. Troopers said the rider was thrown from the motorcycle.
The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene.
Officials said all northbound lanes remained closed until approximately 5:17 p.m., while southbound traffic experienced near-complete gridlock during the incident.
The crash remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
