Distressing 'mayday' audio of Clearwater ferry boat crash released by Florida Coast Guard
'Mayday, mayday, mayday, there's been a boat collision! The Clearwater ferry, underneath the Clearwater Memorial Causeway. The Clearwater ferry is adrift,' the controller was heard shouting as the two vessels collided.
Officials, who called it a 'mass casualty' accident, said a private boat struck the ferry near the Memorial Causeway bridge on Sunday night before speeding away from the scene.
The Clearwater Ferry was shuttling festivalgoers to and from the final night of the 17-day Sugar Sand Festival when it was hit by a private boat carrying six people.
The 37-foot private boat and the driver were found three hours after it fled the scene, police said.
The US Coast Guard said that on-scene reports indicated that all 45 people on the ferry and all six people on the boat were accounted for.
All of those injured were aboard the ferry, according to Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). The person who died has not been identified.
On Monday morning, the Coast Guard said a total of 12 people were taken to a local hospital.
The Clearwater Ferry (pictured after the crash) was shuttling festival goers to and from the final night of the 17-day Sugar Sand Festival when it was hit by a private boat carrying six people
No one was detained and alcohol did not play a role in the crash, an officer with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission said Monday afternoon.
All of the identified victims were adults, though there were some children on the vessel as well, they added.
Many people suffered broken bones and head injuries, among others, police said.
The horror crash caused 'quite a chaotic scene,' Clearwater Fire and Rescue public information officer Rob Shaw told WFLA.
'It was quite a chaotic scene when we got here. There were some patients being picked up by neighboring boats,' he recalled.
'Good Samaritans were trying to help, there were other patients who were walking ashore because some of the shallow waters here off the bridge, so they were able to. Those who could were able to walk ashore and get medical help.'
Following the terrifying incident, Clearwater Ferry issued a statement, saying how 'heartbroken' the company was to hear of the fatal collision.
'We are heartbroken for the person who lost their life, everyone who was hurt, and their families,' the company said.
'We deeply appreciate the dedication of the first responders and others who rushed to help Sunday night. We are cooperating with the investigation. Safety is the top priority for PSTA and the Clearwater Ferry.'
A distressed-looking pregnant woman who was aboard the ferry said she could not feel her baby moving as she headed to the hospital.
Brenda Alvarez, who is 31 weeks pregnant, was on the ferry with her husband and two kids in Clearwater that night.
'We are actually going to go to the hospital right now to get checked because I'm a little worried I haven't felt the baby move,' she told ABC Action News. 'It's very scary.'
Alvarez fell between two seats when the collision occurred. She said the impact caused her 'whole body to hurt.'
'We just wanted to get to our cars and get home. We never, you never expect anything to happen,' she added.
She went on to say that it's hard to truly comprehend 'how fast [the other boat] was going, how that was even logically possible.
'It's horrible. It shattered, it shattered the whole back of the boat, left a huge dent,' she said.
But Alvarez praised first responders who bravely rushed in to assist her children off the ferry.
Both vessels are currently being secured as evidence, FWC officials said.
They are also canvassing the area and going through all the 911 calls made at the time of the crash.
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