Drive killed in Howard Frankland Bridge crash that once again snarls Tampa Bay traffic

ST. PETERSBURG — A 61-year-old man died in a four-car crash on the Howard Frankland Bridge that snarled traffic for commuters heading north into Tampa early Friday morning, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Oswald Caines, of Tampa, was taken to Tampa General Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. He was wearing his seatblet, FHP said.

Lindsay Larsh, 31, of Spring Hill was driving a 2008 Toyota Corolla northbound in the outside lane of the bridge about 4:40 a.m. when she swerved to avoid a furniture dolly in the road, the FHP said. She crossed into the middle lane and struck a 2013 recreational vehicle driven by Pierre Clement, 64. The Corolla struck the median while the RV crashed into the 2000 Ford F-150 pickup driven by Caines, causing it to overturn.

A 2014 Maserati was also involved in the pileup, hitting the pickup when swerving to avoid the initial crash. The Maserati ended up in the outside shoulder, where its driver — whom troopers have not yet identified — abandoned it and walked away on foot.

Northbound lanes on the bridge were reopened hours after the crash, which took place near the Fourth Street N on-ramp onto Interstate 275.

It has been a brutal couple of weeks for cross-bay commuters.

On April 5, it took motorists hours to get from Tampa to the Howard Frankland Bridge after a rollover closed three lanes. Last week a brush fire in St. Petersburg closed the I-275/Gandy Boulevard interchange during rush hour.