‘People want answers': Attorney for family in Clearwater ferry crash voices concern
CLEARWATER, Fla. (WFLA) — An attorney representing several victims in the deadly Clearwater ferry crash is weighing in on the case.
A recreational boat, driven by Jeff Knight, slammed into the back of the Clearwater Ferry near the Memorial Causeway Bridge on April 27, killing José Castro and injuring 10 others.
No charges have been filed in connection with the ferry crash.
Jeff Knight, the owner of Jannus Live, stepped down from the management team.
'From the sworn witness statements already in your possession, as well as from the video evidence, there is consistent and credible evidence that no stern light was visible at the time of the incident,' attorney J. Kevin Hayslett wrote in the letter to investigators.
Meanwhile, an attorney representing six survivors is sharing a different perspective in the case.
'It's not just who did or didn't have lights on,' said attorney Stephen Barnes. 'My understanding is that Mr. Knight's vessel was overtaking the ferry, and there's a very specific rule of the road that says if you're overtaking another vessel, you have to give right of away. He had responsibilities irrespective of whose lights were or weren't on.'
Last week, passengers onboard the private boat that slammed into the ferry wrote sworn letters to investigators detailing what they experienced that night.
Three women described what led up to the crash and its aftermath in their written statements. The women reported having alcoholic drinks at dinner before getting on the boat, but said Jeff did not have any. They insisted no one used drugs before or after dinner.
One woman described the area as being 'really dark' and the crash as 'out of nowhere.'
However, Barnes says there are additional factors to consider.
'There's responsibilities and rules to keep an adequate lookout,' said Barnes. 'If you are a captain navigating, and especially at night, you may need assistance on that boat to see what's ahead of you or around you, so that you can take proper action to avoid things like this.'The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is asking anyone with video footage from the area of the fatal ferry crash to contact the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Curious Florida gator checks out deputy vehicle
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (WFLA) — Charlotte County deputies got one of their vehicles checked out by an alligator on Friday, as he made sure the tread on their tires was road-ready. The gator was found at the intersection of Theresa Boulevard and Hillsborough Boulevard in Port Charlotte. After verifying the vehicle was safe to drive, the curious alligator continued on his way. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
2 days ago
- The Hill
Person who wrote bomb threat on Florida flight sought by FBI
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The FBI Tampa Field Office is searching for a passenger who seemingly wrote a bomb threat on an Allegiant flight at Florida's St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport. Investigators said the threat was found on Allegiant Airlines Flight #2006's lavatory door on April 25. The flight was departing St. Pete-Clearwater Airport and headed to Cincinnati. The crew discovered the threat while the plane was taxiing from the gate before departure. The person wrote, 'Bomb on flight check cargo. All Allegiant flight.' (FBI Tampa) The plane was evacuated but no device was found after an extensive search. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the FBI's Tampa Field Office at (813) 253-1000. You can also submit a tip online at
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Wesley Chapel family says dog survived alligator attack in their backyard
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A family in Wesley Chapel is traumatized after their rescue dog was attacked by an alligator in their backyard. A video shows Zeus, a German Shepherd, standing on a leash with a gator lurking just beyond the fence, a chilling moment the family now views as a warning. 'We have a doggy door, and Zeus will go in and out of it whenever he wants,' said Susan Alkhatib. 'We have it covered right now because of what happened.' 4 dolphins from Florida park involved in criminal investigation moved to Clearwater Marine Aquarium Earlier this week, Zeus stepped outside like any other night, only this time, an alligator was waiting. 'All of a sudden, I couldn't hear him anymore,' one family member recalled. 'My dad came in frantic. I'd never seen him like that. He said, 'The alligator just took Zeus.'' Alkhatib and her family ran outside with flashlights and caught a glimpse of Zeus struggling in the pond with the gator still latched onto him. 'The alligator had just let go of Zeus,' Alkhatib said. 'We started yelling at him to come toward us. When he got closer, he got tired. So we had to kind of go into the pond a little bit to get him.' While News Channel 8 was interviewing the family, a gator emerged from the water again before slipping back in. 'I have a 7-year-old sister,' said one family member. 'And I just think, if she was at the fence, would he have done the same thing to her?' Zeus miraculously survived the attack. He suffered a fractured and displaced jaw, along with multiple puncture wounds around his neck. 'The vet said it looked like his whole head was in the gator's mouth,' said Alkhatib. 'Even he said, 'I don't know how he survived.'' 'I honestly can't believe he is alive,' Alkhatib said. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has sent out trappers, but so far, they have not been able to capture the gator. Zeus is now recovering from several surgeries. The family has started a GoFundMe to help pay for his veterinary bills. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
