A 64-year-old Tampa man was killed early Tuesday morning following a motorcycle crash on the southbound lanes of Interstate 275 near the Howard Frankland Bridge, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The fatal collision occurred around 4:35 a.m. on May 26, 2026, near the 35-mile marker on the bridge connecting Tampa and St. Petersburg. Authorities said the man was riding a black 2018 Honda Gold Wing motorcycle in the outside center lane of southbound I-275 when the crash happened during the early morning commute.
Preliminary findings from investigators indicate the motorcyclist was attempting a lane change when the motorcycle entered the path of a silver 2023 Kia Soul being driven by a 48-year-old woman from Lakewood Ranch. Troopers said the Kia struck the motorcycle, causing the rider to lose control and crash onto the roadway.
Emergency crews from Hillsborough County Fire Rescue responded within minutes, but the motorcyclist suffered catastrophic injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after the crash. Authorities have not yet publicly released the victim’s identity pending notification of next of kin.
The driver of the Kia Soul was not injured and remained at the scene, cooperating with investigators. No other vehicles were involved in the collision.
The crash led to major traffic delays across the Howard Frankland Bridge during the morning rush hour as Florida Highway Patrol troopers shut down multiple southbound lanes to conduct their investigation. Traffic backups extended for miles into Pinellas County while crews cleared debris and documented the crash scene.
Investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the collision, including vehicle positioning, speed, and roadway conditions at the time of the crash. As of Tuesday afternoon, no charges or citations had been announced.
The Howard Frankland Bridge is one of the busiest transportation corridors in the Tampa Bay area, carrying thousands of commuters daily between Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.