Advertisement

Search ends after reported Sunshine Skyway jumper sighting

 
Published Aug. 4, 2012

ST. PETERSBURG — Authorities called off a more than 24-hour search Friday for a person who was reported to have jumped Thursday from the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.

Passing motorists on the top of the bridge's southbound side reported seeing a person wearing blue jeans leap over the side at about 3:30 p.m. Thursday, authorities said.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission led an air and sea search of the waters near the bridge with assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard and Eckerd College, said FWC spokesman Gary Morse. By Friday, searchers had found no sign that anyone had jumped.

"(The search) ensued with no evidence found that anyone jumped," Morse said. "We're not sure this happened."