One person died and a dozen others were sent to a hospital in Clearwater, Florida, after a recreational boat struck a ferry carrying festival and beach goers and then fled the scene, according to law enforcement officials.
The hit-and-run occurred just off the Memorial Causeway bridge around 8:40 p.m. on April 27, as reported by the U.S. Coast Guard. Approximately 45 people were aboard the ferry, including two crew members, with six people on the other vessel at the time of the crash.
Twelve people were transported to a local hospital, with no additional information provided about their conditions by the Coast Guard. Only those on the ferry sustained injuries, according to authorities.
Following the collision, the Clearwater Fire and Rescue Department categorized the crash as a "mass casualty incident" due to the severity of injuries. Six patients were trauma alerts, and two of them were airlifted to a local hospital, as stated by the city of Clearwater.
The recreational boat that fled the scene was identified by law enforcement authorities, the city confirmed.
After the crash, the ferry settled on a sandbar just south of the bridge, which connects Clearwater and Clearwater Beach, located north of St. Petersburg and west of Tampa.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is conducting an investigation into the collision's cause.
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The incident took place on the final day of the Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival on Clearwater Beach, with many passengers aboard the ferry returning from a day of festivities on the water.
Brenda Alvarez, a pregnant woman with her husband and two young children on the ferry, described the crash as "shattering the whole back" of the vessel. The family had spent the day on the beach under the hot Florida sun.
"I fell between two seats, and my whole body hurts right now," she shared with WFTS Tampa Bay, mentioning her intention to visit the hospital to check on her baby. "We just wanted to get to our cars and get home."
The ferry operates as a public water taxi, allowing individuals to bypass traffic on the Memorial Causeway bridge and sail across Clearwater Harbor for a small fee.
Fares range from $2.50 to $5, with the ferry route running from downtown Clearwater to Clearwater Beach. Previously, the ferry had stops in Dunedin, a city north of Clearwater, but due to dock damages from Hurricanes Milton and Debby, service was suspended until repairs are completed.
The Clearwater Ferry was established in 2015 as a privately owned service, as per the Tampa Bay Times. Earlier this year, the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority assumed control of the ferry service, expanding its schedule and extending daily service hours.
"We are heartbroken for the person who lost their life, everyone who was hurt, and their families," expressed the transportation authority and Clearwater Ferry in a joint statement following the tragic collision. "We deeply appreciate the dedication of the first responders and others who rushed to help Sunday night. We are cooperating with the investigation. Safety is the top priority for PSTA and the Clearwater Ferry."