A harrowing incident on the water unfolded Sunday night when the Clearwater Ferry carrying over 40 passengers was struck by another boat, resulting in multiple serious injuries and one fatality, authorities said. The collision occurred near the Memorial Causeway bridge at approximately 8:43 p.m., according to a social media post from the Clearwater Police Department.
The response by both the Clearwater Police and Clearwater Fire & Rescue was swift, the scene was declared a mass casualty incident due to the number and severity of injuries sustained, wherein six patients were deemed trauma alerts—two of these patients necessitated evacuation via helicopter. The implicated boat that left the aftermath of the crash has spurred an investigation now taken over by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and supported by the Coast Guard. "Clearwater Fire & Rescue responded to a boat crash with multiple serious injuries near the Memorial Causeway bridge," detailed the Clearwater Police Department in their post.
The extent of the injuries among the other passengers and crew remains under evaluation. Further information regarding the boat that caused the collision and it's current whereabouts have not been disclosed; however, authorities are actively pursuing the matter. The incident has prompted a call for increased vigilance and safety protocols among the boating community as well as a review of current regulations to prevent such incidents in the future.
Updates on the investigation and the ongoing recovery process for those injured will be forthcoming as reported by the Clearwater Police Department, local authorities have pledged their commitment to uncovering the circumstances that led to this incident and ensuring justice for the victims.
