ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Emergency officials responded to the Pinellas County side of Howard Frankland Bridge Wednesday morning after a crash resulted in a vehicle going into Tampa Bay. 

Several hours later, a large wrecker was able to pull the crashed vehicle, a white SUV, out of the water. There has been no word yet on the occupant or occupants of the SUV.

  • Vehicle into water off Howard Frankland bridge
  • 2-vehicle crash, 1 vehicle into Tampa Bay
  • BN9 Traffic resources

The crash happened just after 7 a.m. on the southbound lanes, Pinellas side of the bridge.

St. Pete Fire Rescue crews responded to the scene and multiple boats began a search. As many as six boats responded to aid in the search. 

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the white SUV was traveling southbound in a reckless manner near milepost 34. As the SUV changed lanes, it hit the front of a Ford F-150 pickup truck, which came to rest in a center lane of the bridge. The driver of the Ford was not seriously injured.

The SUV rotated after impact, overturned multiple times and flipped into the water. Divers also responded to the scene and located the SUV.

Drivers can expect major southbound traffic delays into Pinellas.

This is a developing story and more information will be provided as it becomes available. Stay with Spectrum Bay News 9 online and on air for the latest information.