One Dead, Dozens Injured in Clearwater Ferry Collision

A fatal collision occurred near the Memorial Causeway Bridge in Clearwater, Florida, when a private boat struck a ferry carrying over 40 passengers, resulting in one death and at least a dozen injuries. The boat fled the scene immediately after the crash, but authorities later located the vessel and confirmed all six people aboard were uninjured. Emergency services declared the event a 'mass casualty incident' as several injured passengers, including some in critical condition, were transported to local hospitals. The ferry, which had been shuttling festivalgoers from the Sugar Sand Festival, came to rest on a sandbar following the impact. Investigations are ongoing, led by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission with assistance from local police and the Coast Guard. Authorities urged the public to avoid the area as rescue and investigation operations continued late into the night.