Fatal Hit-and-Run Boat Crash in Florida Leaves Ferry Passenger Dead, Multiple Injured

It started out as a normal evening on the water near Clearwater, Florida — quiet skies, a ferry full of passengers heading toward the beach. No one expected what came next. Just after 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, things turned chaotic.

A recreational boat slammed into a Clearwater Ferry carrying roughly 45 passengers, in what officials later described as a “mass casualty incident.” The crash occurred near the Memorial Causeway bridge, a well-traveled water route connecting downtown Clearwater with Clearwater Beach.

1 Dead, Several Injured in Ferry Collision

According to Clearwater police and the U.S. Coast Guard, one person on the ferry lost their life in the incident. All the injuries were sustained by ferry passengers. Six were designated trauma alerts — with two described as critically injured — and were airlifted to nearby hospitals.

“It happened so fast, and then the chaos took over,” a witness told local media. “People were screaming, trying to figure out who was hurt, who was okay.”

Authorities confirmed that the boat responsible fled the scene. However, another law enforcement agency managed to identify it later that evening. The identity of the boat’s operator or any charges remain undisclosed as of now.

Ferry Grounded on Sandbar After Collision

The ferry eventually came to a stop on a sandbar located just south of the bridge. By 10:30 p.m., all passengers — injured or not — had been safely evacuated, according to a statement by the City of Clearwater. They also confirmed that no individuals were reported missing.

Multiple agencies are now involved in the ongoing investigation, including the U.S. Coast Guard and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The scene has since been cleared, but questions remain about how such a reckless event could occur — and whether justice will be served for those affected.

It’s unclear what prompted the hit-and-run, or whether alcohol or speed played a role, but residents are now grappling with unease about safety on what should be a routine journey across the bay.