UPDATED 4/20/26 11 p.m.
LONGBOAT KEY – A sailboat struck the Longboat Pass Bridge on Friday morning. The boating accident temporarily impacted vechicular traffic on the bridge that connects Longboat Key and Bradenton Beach. The two people aboard the sailboat were not injured and the bridge did not sustain structural damage.
When contacted by The Sun via email early Friday afternoon, Longboat Key Fire Administration and Communications Manager/Public Information Officer Tina Adams provided the following response: “We did respond to a vessel incident at the Longboat Pass Bridge earlier today. Our units were dispatched at 9:24 a.m. after a sailboat struck the bridge. The southbound lane was temporarily closed to vehicle traffic for a little over an hour while Longboat Key Police managed traffic using the northbound lane. Both lanes have since reopened and traffic is flowing normally again.
“Fortunately, there were no injuries reported from the incident. There were in fact two people aboard the vessel. The U.S. Coast Guard, along with other marine patrol units, is currently working to remove the vessel from the area. Since this involves a vessel striking the bridge, the primary jurisdiction falls to the USCG, with our teams providing support as needed,” Adams stated, noting the U.S. Coast Guard has primary jurisdiction over the incident.
At 10 a.m. on Friday, April 17, the town of Longboat Key posted the following Facebook message: “Traffic Alert: Longboat Pass Bridge. A sailboat has collided with the Longboat Pass Bridge, resulting in the temporary closure of the southbound lane to vehicle traffic. Longboat Key Police Department and Fire/EMS crews are actively managing the scene and prioritizing public safety. To maintain traffic flow, officers are alternating vehicles through the northbound lane. United States Coast Guard is en route to assist with removing the vessel. Inspection of the bridge is underway. The closure is expected to last approximately 30 minutes, though timing may change depending on conditions,” the city’s post said.
At 10:40 a.m., the town posted an update that said, “Both lanes of the Longboat Pass Bridge have now reopened to vehicle traffic. United States Coast Guard is currently working alongside marine patrol units to actively remove the vessel involved in the incident. No injuries.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation. Please continue to use caution in the area as crews remain on scene.”
At 2 p.m. Friday, Longboat Key Deputy Town Clerk II Stephanie Garcia sent out an email that referenced Town Manager Howard “Tip” Tipton.
“Tip just got off the phone with FDOT and they have completed their inspection. There is no structural damage from the sailboat this morning,” the email said.
According to the incident report Adams later provided, “FB9 arrived on scene and assisted with crowd/boater control. An approximately 30-foot-long, single-mast sailboat (Hula Girl) was pinned sideways in the current against the bridge pilings. Several boats in the area had to be kept back while USCG (the Coast Guard) attempted to tow the vessel away from the bridge. While attempting to pull the vessel, the current pulled the boat further under the bridge, which caused the mast to snap and fall back onto the sailboat. The sailboat then wedged between two pilings. No injuries were reported. Longboat Key Police Department then removed the two civilians who were still on the sailboat. USCG then determined the best course was to await commercial salvage/towing.”
