The boat that crashed into the ferry fled the scene, authorities say, with the collision happening at the end of the 17-day Sugar Sand Festival held on Clearwater beach.
Monday 28 April 2025 09:24, UK
The ferry following the crash. Pic: Tampa Bay Times/AP
One person has died and multiple others have been injured after a boat crashed into a ferry in Florida, in what firefighters have described as a “mass casualty incident”.
The boat that crashed into the ferry fled the scene, authorities said, following the collision near the Memorial Causeway Bridge in Clearwater at about 8.30pm local time on Sunday.
All the casualties were on the ferry, which was carrying 45 people including two crew members.
Six patients were “declared as trauma alerts” including two with serious injuries who were airlifted to hospital, the City of Clearwater said on X.
The Clearwater Fire Department declared the crash a “mass casualty incident” because of the number and severity of injuries.
The ferry came to rest on a sandbar just south of the bridge and there is not thought to be anyone missing.
Pic: Tampa Bay Times/AP
Emergency services at the scene in Clearwater, Florida. Pic: Javier Vazquez/Reuters
“The boat that fled the scene has been identified by another law enforcement agency,” the City of Clearwater said.
“The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will be taking the lead on the crash investigation.”
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The collision happened at the end of the 17-day Sugar Sand Festival, held on Clearwater beach.
Videos posted on social media showed several emergency workers rushing to the scene with lights flashing.
Police had earlier cautioned drivers to avoid Memorial Causeway.
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