A fatal boat collision occurred off the Memorial Causeway Bridge on Sunday, resulting in one death and multiple injuries. The incident involved a boat crashing into a ferry and then leaving the scene, according to local authorities. The Clearwater Police Department reported that the crash resulted in numerous injuries, prompting the Clearwater Fire & Rescue Department to declare it a “mass casualty incident.”
The ferry, which was carrying over 40 passengers, bore the brunt of the injuries. However, the police have not released any details about the individual who lost their life in the incident. The ferry was found on a sandbar south of the Memorial Causeway Bridge, and all passengers and patients have since been evacuated.
Authorities have yet to provide information about the boat that left the scene or the exact number of those injured. Local hospitals were alerted to the situation, with multiple trauma alerts issued. Two of the more seriously injured individuals were airlifted to hospitals, as stated by the Clearwater Fire & Rescue Department.
The crash, which resulted in “multiple serious injuries,” occurred just before 9 p.m., according to the Clearwater Fire & Rescue Department. Social media videos showed numerous first responders rushing to the scene with lights flashing. Police advised drivers to steer clear of the Memorial Causeway area.
The investigation into the crash will be conducted by the US Coast Guard and the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. As the investigation unfolds, more details about the incident and the boat that fled the scene are expected to be released.