Skyway, Bill DeYoung
Skyway, Bill DeYoung
List: $19.99 | Sale: $13.99
Club: $9.99

Skyway
The True Story of Tampa Bay's Signature Bridge and the Man Who Brought It Down

Author: Bill DeYoung

Narrator: Chris Sorensen

Unabridged: 7 hr 15 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 11/22/2022


Synopsis

On the morning of May 9, 1980, harbor pilot John Lerro was guiding a 600-foot freighter, the Summit Venture, into Tampa Bay. Directly in the ship's path was the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Suddenly, a violent weather cell reduced visibility to zero at the precise moment when Lerro attempted to direct the 20,000-ton vessel underneath the bridge. Unable to stop or see where he was going, Lerro drove the ship into a support pier.

Skyway tells the entire story of this horrific event, from the circumstances that led up to it through the years-long legal proceedings. Bill DeYoung pieces together the harrowing moments of the collision, including the accounts of witnesses and survivors.

Among those whose lives were changed forever was Wesley MacIntire, the motorist whose truck ricocheted off the hull of the Summit Venture and sank. The lone survivor, MacIntire, like Lerro, was emotionally scarred and remained haunted by the tragedy for the rest of his life.

DeYoung offers a history of the ill-fated bridge, from its construction in 1954, through the addition of a second parallel span in 1971, to its eventual replacement. The result is a detailed portrait of the rise and fall of a Florida landmark.

About Bill DeYoung

Bill DeYoung is a native of St. Petersburg, Florida. Nationally recognized for his music journalism, he was a writer and editor at various Florida newspapers for three decades.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Tom on July 09, 2013

On Friday morning, May 9th, 1980, I was a student at Pine View School in Sarasota, Florida. School started at 8:15, and I think it was second period that I worked as a student aide in the school office. One of the secretaries got a phone call, and she went ashen. When she hung up, she came out and t......more

Goodreads review by Kathy on March 31, 2018

OMG I NEVER KNEW! Although I did know that I often have to close my eyes going over this bridge and often say a thank you prayer for making it across. This story is very well done covering the 1980 freighter/pier collision that resulted in 35 deaths. The author explains all the technical data very w......more

Goodreads review by Philip on April 16, 2018

For those of us (like me) who have frequently traveled across the majestic Skyway, a marvelous feat of technology and art, Bill DeYoung's "Skyway" hits close to home. Maybe too close -- it's hard not to play the "what if?" game. It's tightly paced, and DeYoung does a great job weaving together sever......more

Goodreads review by Trish on June 04, 2019

Outstanding! Reading this book is like you are talking with the author. It is about the Sunshine Skyway bridge in Florida and the terrible ship accident that brought it down, the man who literally brought it down, the judgements, the politics, and survival bringing it to new birth. My family would t......more

Goodreads review by Mari Anne on May 16, 2020

Compelling read! The writing was was a little rough at times but the narrative was paced so well that the story kept moving. A really fascinating read, not only about the actual incident but also about the history before the accident and the aftermath after. Really fascinating local history and huma......more