Parts of the Sunshine Skyway were closed overnight after a tanker truck caught on fire Tuesday (July 12).

PINELLAS COUNTY – All lanes of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge reopened early this morning (July 13), according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

One southbound lane of the bridge was closed overnight while crews inspected and repaired damage from a traffic crash Tuesday (July 12) morning. The fire from the crash closed the bridge completely for several hours Tuesday.

The crash happened about 10:40 a.m. when the right front tire of a 2007 Mack Truck operated by Ulises Hernandez-Fernandez, 48, of Tampa, blew out. The driver of the truck. which was carrying 4,000 gallons of diesel fuel owned by JVS Contracting of Tampa, lost control on the Skyway Bridge at the southbound 12.5 milepost.  The truck collided with the outside barrier wall multiple times over a distance of about 800 feet before coming to final rest in the outside southbound lane and catching fire, the FHP said.

The driver got out, sustained minor injuries and was later transported to Manatee Memorial Hospital for medical treatment.

For information about the FHP, go to flhsmv.gov.

Photos courtesy of the Florida Highway Patrol.

Sunshine Skyway Bridge | Florida Highway Patrol | Traffic Crash | TB Reporter

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