Multi-Vehicle Crash on Skyway Bridge Kills 50-Year-Old Motorcyclist

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on March 3, 2023

A St. Petersburg community is mourning the loss of a beloved local brewmaster this week after he was killed during a motorcycle accident on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge Thursday morning.

According to preliminary incident reports from Pinellas County authorities, it was close to 9:15 a.m. on March 2, 2023, when 50-year-old Ty Weaver was driving his motorcycle along the inside lane of the Skyway Bridge behind an SUV. Both vehicles were travelling in the northbound direction of I-275 near mile marker 12 when the flow of traffic in front of the SUV started to slow down. The 55-year-old female driver of the SUV followed suit and applied their brakes, but the 50-year-old motorcyclist seemingly failed to yield for the slowing SUV and rear-ended the sport utility vehicle.

The impact from the initial collision ejected the motorcyclist from his bike onto the roadway where he was struck by an oncoming tractor-trailer that was driving behind the victim at the time of the first accident. He was transported to the nearest hospital but was unable to survive his injuries and passed away shortly upon arrival. He was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

The 55-year-old driver of the SUV and the 57-year-old truck driver did not sustain any injuries.

The victim, 50-year-old Ty Weaver, was the chief brewer at 3 Daughters Brewery in St. Petersburg and leaves behind a huge group of family, friends, and colleagues who are in complete shock over his death. “Ty was a brilliant individual whose talent, passion, and love for the art of brewing were unrivaled,” said Mike Harting, the owner of the popular establishment where the victim was employed.

No further information has been released regarding this collision. The section of the Skyway Bridge where the accident took place was closed for several hours while clean-up crews removed pieces of debris left behind from the crash.

Since 1977, St. Petersburg personal injury attorney James O. Cunningham has been dedicated to representing families who have tragically lost a loved one in an auto accident. If you would like additional information, simply submit a contact form describing a few details surrounding your situation. To schedule a free 30-minute case evaluation, please call our office directly at 877-FL-INJURY for an appointment.

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.