ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A Florida man driving toward a bridge over Tampa Bay pulled his car over early Thursday, took his 5-year-old daughter from the back seat, pressed her head to his chest, and tossed her over the rail, according to police in St. Petersburg. 

John Nicholas Jonchuck, 25, faces first-degree murder charges. His daughter, Phoebe, fell about 60 feet over the Sunshine Skyway bridge into the bay just after midnight, St. Petersburg police Chief Anthony Holloway said at a news conference.

Her body was recovered about a mile from the bridge an hour and a half later. Rescue crews tried to revive her, but she was pronounced dead at 2:44 a.m.

Back on the road, officers said Jonchuck got back in the car and headed south, crossing the bridge on Interstate 275.

Holloway said Jonchuck turned his blinker on and stopped before starting again and driving toward deputies. He then headed the wrong way on the interstate, going back toward the bridge. Deputies put out traffic spikes to stop the vehicle.

Jonchuck was arrested and brought back to St. Petersburg for questioning. He’s being held without bond on the murder charge.

Jail records didn’t list the name of Jonchuck’s attorney.

An autopsy is pending.