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52m ago

One Dead, Dozens Injured After Boat Collides With Clearwater Ferry in Hit-and-Run

The ferry, carrying 45 passengers, was struck near the Memorial Causeway Bridge during the Sugar Sand Festival; the fleeing boat has been identified, and a multi-agency investigation is ongoing.

Investigators search the wreckage of a Clearwater Ferry after a boat crashed into the ferry causing multiple injuries near the Clearwater Memorial Causeway Bridge, on Sunday, April 27, 2025, in Clearwater, Fla.
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Overview

  • A private recreational boat collided with the Clearwater Ferry at approximately 8:40 p.m. on April 27, causing the ferry to run aground on a sandbar near the Memorial Causeway Bridge in Clearwater, Florida.
  • The incident was declared a mass casualty event by the fire department due to the number of injuries, with six trauma alerts issued and two patients airlifted to hospitals.
  • Authorities have confirmed one fatality from the collision, with all injuries reported among the 45 passengers and crew aboard the ferry.
  • The boat responsible for the collision fled the scene but has since been identified by law enforcement; details about the vessel remain undisclosed.
  • The U.S. Coast Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are leading the investigation into the crash, which occurred on the final night of the 17-day Sugar Sand Festival.