Boat-ferry collision in Florida: One dead and several injured in Clearwater
A ferry carrying 45 passengers was struck by another vessel on Sunday night; one person died, and authorities are investigating the incident as a mass casualty accident.
One person died and several were injured after a boat collided with a ferry in Clearwater, Florida, on Sunday night. The ferry, carrying 45 passengers, was struck near the Memorial Causeway Bridge by a boat that fled the scene after impact, local authorities reported.
The accident resulted in the ferry becoming grounded on a sandbar. The Clearwater Fire Department declared the incident a "mass casualty incident" due to the number of people affected. Authorities are still investigating the extent of the injuries, while it was confirmed that all the injured were passengers and were evacuated from the ferry.
Identification of the vessel responsible and investigation begins
According to Clearwater Police spokesman Rob Shaw, the vessel responsible for the collision has been identified, and authorities believe it is now in the custody of their law enforcement partners. The investigation is being led by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, with support from the Clearwater Police and the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.
Two of the injured passengers were airlifted to local hospitals, one with a fractured femur and the other with undetermined injuries. Bayfront Hospital was one of the facilities that received the victims. The Coast Guard also responded to the scene to provide rescue and investigative support.
Response from authorities and the ferry involved
The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority and Clearwater Ferry expressed their condolences for the fatality and their sympathy to the injured and their families. In a joint statement, they thanked the first responders who provided assistance at the scene and assured them they were cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
A spokesperson for the Clearwater Ferry confirmed their vessel's involvement in the accident but did not provide further details due to the active nature of the investigation. Authorities continue working to confirm the whereabouts of all passengers and clarify the exact circumstances of the incident in this coastal city in West Florida.