In what has been labeled a “mass casualty incident,” a horrific hit-and-run boat crash near the Clearwater Memorial Causeway has left one person dead.
Specifically, tragedy struck after an unidentified vessel slammed into a passenger ferry carrying over 40 people.
The reckless boater who caused the deadly collision fled the scene, leaving victims stranded and first responders scrambling to save lives.
The Clearwater Police Department reported that the deadly crash occurred when a boat struck a ferry near the Memorial Causeway Bridge.
The impact was severe enough that the Clearwater Fire & Rescue Department immediately declared a “mass casualty incident” due to multiple serious injuries among ferry passengers.
All victims were aboard the ferry, which ended up stranded on a sandbar south of the Memorial Causeway Bridge after the collision.
Emergency personnel evacuated all passengers, and helicopters airlifted two critically injured victims to nearby hospitals.
One passenger recounted the terrifying moments before impact: “We were just enjoying the ride, and then all of a sudden we hear the first mate yelling, ‘Hey, hey, hey.'”
🚨 Clearwater Ferry Hit-and-Run: Mass Casualty Incident Leaves Dozens Injured Near Memorial Causeway Bridge 🚤🇺🇸
The Collision
Tonight, April 27, 2025, at 8:40 p.m. local time, a recreational boat struck the Clearwater Ferry, carrying 42 passengers, near the Memorial Causeway… pic.twitter.com/AmB2de2G8A— PitunisWorld 🌎 (@ScMesab) April 28, 2025
Law enforcement officials faced the additional challenge of tracking down the hit-and-run vessel responsible for the carnage.
According to ABC7, authorities later located the boat, though details about its operator remain undisclosed.
The U.S. Coast Guard and Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission have launched a full investigation into the crash.
The Clearwater Memorial Causeway is a crucial six-lane bridge that connects downtown Clearwater and Clearwater Beach, located roughly 23 miles west of Tampa.
Following the collision, police advised drivers to avoid the area while emergency operations were underway.
Social media videos showed numerous first responders at the scene, with emergency lights flashing.
First responders acted quickly to address the multiple casualties. “Multiple trauma alerts have been called with helicopters transporting two of the more seriously injured,” the Clearwater Police Department said.
The department also highlighted the severity of the incident that turned what should have been a pleasant evening ferry ride into a nightmare for dozens of passengers.
Local hospitals received advance notice to prepare for incoming victims, demonstrating an efficient response in the face of this maritime disaster.
