Woman jumps to her death from Sunshine Skyway as holidays approach

Authorities found the body of a woman who jumped from the Sunshine Skyway early Tuesday.

Officials responded to a 5:09 a.m. report of a 1994 Honda Accord stopped atop the northbound span of the bridge. The Florida Highway Patrol found the car with the keys inside. Also in the car were a wallet, some form of identification and a note.

Search boats found the woman's body, which was taken to nearby O'Neill's Marina. Her name was not released until the family could be notified.

On Friday, authorities suspected that someone else jumped after a report of a car abandoned on the bridge. A body was found Saturday, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Web site. Weather conditions made the search difficult on Friday, authorities said.

The number of people who jump from the bridge increases during the holiday season, said St. Petersburg Fire Rescue Lt. Joel Granata.

"This is like one a week now," he said.