FLORIDA – A webcam located near the Memorial Causeway Bridge in Clearwater, Florida, has captured dramatic footage of a recreational boat colliding with a ferry on the evening of April 27. The crash, which resulted in one death and a dozen injuries, occurred just off the bridge around 8:40 p.m. and was followed by the fleeing boat, which sped away from the scene.
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The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed the collision involved a ferry carrying about 45 passengers, including two crew members, and a smaller recreational boat with six people aboard. According to law enforcement, only those on the ferry were injured in the incident. Twelve people were transported to a local hospital, and at least six were considered trauma alerts, with two requiring helicopter transport to receive further medical care.
The webcam footage, which has now been reviewed by investigators, shows the terrifying moment when the boat slammed into the ferry, damaging its rear and causing chaos among passengers. Brenda Alvarez, a pregnant woman who was aboard the ferry with her family, said the crash “shattered the whole back” of the vessel. She and her family had been spending the day at the Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival on Clearwater Beach.
After the collision, the ferry came to a stop on a sandbar just south of the bridge, but the recreational boat quickly fled the scene, prompting a search by local authorities. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has since identified the boat responsible for the crash. Law enforcement agencies are now working to determine whether the crash was intentional or a result of negligence.
As the investigation continues, Clearwater Fire and Rescue personnel have labeled the incident a “mass casualty” situation due to the severity of the injuries sustained by several passengers. Local authorities are ensuring that those responsible for fleeing the scene will be held accountable.
This shocking footage has raised concerns over boating safety in the area, and local officials are calling for increased vigilance on the waters to prevent similar incidents in the future.
looks like the speedy boat did not “see” the ferry in the dark. the ferry did not seem to have lights on in the back.