ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Passengers had to stop a charter bus from plunging nearly 200 feet off the Sunshine Skyway bridge after the driver apparently had a fatal heart attack and collapsed.
http://www.floridatoday.com/!NEWSROOM/newsgraphics/111804skybus1.jpgThomas Grove, 61, of Pinellas Park, was behind the wheel Wednesday afternoon near the top of the bridge heading toward St. Petersburg when he fell out of his seat, passengers and Florida Highway Patrol officials said.
The bus slammed into the 3-foot concrete wall, which blocks vehicles from tumbling into Tampa Bay. Three of the five passengers jumped out of their seats and ran toward the front.
"Grab the wheel!" 70-year-old Kenneth McAllister recalled shouting to his wife and another woman.
The women held the steering wheel until McAllister could slide into the driver's seat. He fought to keep the bus in its lane and hit the brake. It stopped just before the highest part of the bridge.
http://www.floridatoday.com/topstories/111804apskyway.htm
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