Driver of boat in deadly Florida ferry crash denies fleeing the scene: Reports

USA Today

01-05-2025

Driver of boat in deadly Florida ferry crash denies fleeing the scene: Reports
Show Caption
Hide Caption
One dead, 10 injured after recreational boat smashes into ferry
One person is dead and 10 injured after a boat hit a ferry in Clearwater, Florida. Police are searching for the boat's driver.
The man driving a recreational boat that crashed into a ferry in the water near Clearwater, Florida, on April 27, killing one and injuring several others, denied that he fled the scene in a letter to investigators from his attorney, according to multiple news outlets.
Jeff Knight, identified as a local businessman, stayed at the scene of the crash for several minutes until first responders arrived and tried to provide assistance, his lawyer J. Kevin Hayslett wrote in a letter to investigators that was published by CNN and WTSP.
The Clearwater Police Department previously said that the boat "fled the scene."
"(A)ny suggestion that Mr. Knight left the scene is wholly unsupported," Hayslett wrote in the letter dated April 29, published by CNN.
USA TODAY has reached out to Hayslett and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which is investigating.
What happened in the Clearwater ferry boat crash?
The collision happened near the Memorial Causeway bridge at about 8:40 p.m. on April 27, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. There were about 45 people on the ferry, many of whom were returning from a day of revelry at the Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival on Clearwater Beach.
Authorities said a blue and white recreational boat carrying six people hit the ferry with 45 people on board and then drove away from the scene. It was found 3.5 miles away, and officials said the driver was cooperative and took a breathalyzer test in which no alcohol was found present.
Ten adults on the ferry had injuries ranging from broken bones to head injuries, officials said at a news conference. The Clearwater Fire Department declared the scene a mass casualty incident because of the number of injuries, six of which were declared trauma alerts with two taken to a hospital by helicopter.
Driver did not flee, attorney says
Hayslett said Knight complied with Florida law requiring him to try to help. Knight told one of his passengers to call 911 and tied his boat to the ferry to "stabilize it and render aid" and move it closer to shore so first responders would have easier access, Hayslett wrote. Knight also told the captain of the ferry he could transport passengers to a hospital on his boat, an offer that was declined, Hayslett said in the letter.
Knight then realized his boat was taking on water and worried it would sink, and decided he needed to get it back to his dock so he could take it out of the water, the letter said.
"Only after Clearwater Police Officers were in the water and ambulances had arrived did Mr. Knight leave in order to prevent his boat from sinking with an infant on board," Hayslett wrote.
The boat was stopped by law enforcement on the way back to the dock and towed to a boat ramp where the 8-week-old baby was examined by medical personnel, he said.
The attorney said in his letter that there is "credible concern" the ferry was not properly displaying its navigational lights, impacting visibility before the crash.
Jeff Knight steps down from Jannus Live, Florida music venue
Knight is listed in state business records as president of Jannus Live, an outdoor music venue in St. Petersburg, Florida. He also became a minority owner over a decade ago, according to a 2009 report from the Tampa Bay Times.
The venue said in a statement on social media on April 30 that Knight was stepping down following the boat crash "and will no longer have any affiliation with the venue."
"This decision was made out of respect for the victims of the recent Clearwater Ferry tragedy and to ensure that ongoing developments do not detract from the work of the talented artists, staff, and community partners who have long contributed to the success of Jannus Live," the statement said.
Contributing: Christopher Cann, N'dea Yancey-Bragg and Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY