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Irish Examiner
28-04-2025
- Irish Examiner
Florida boat collision leaves one dead and at least 10 people injured
A recreational boat crashed into a ferry transporting 45 people on the final day of a sand-sculpting festival in Florida, killing one person and injuring at least 10 others, officials said. The crash late on Sunday in calm waters off Clearwater on the western Florida coast set off an emergency response due to the high number of possible casualties. Video of the accident released by law enforcement on Monday at a news conference showed the recreational vehicle ploughing into the ferry. 'We were just enjoying the ride and all of a sudden we heard the first mate yelling, 'Hey hey hey,'' Marco Vacheco, who was on the ferry with Brenda Alvarez and their two young children, told TV station WFTS. 'And we looked back behind us and this big yacht just came through the boat.' First responders gather on a beach near where the Memorial Causeway Bridge in Clearwater after the crash (Douglas R Clifford/Tampa Bay Times/AP) The operator of the recreational boat was co-operating with authorities, and a breathalyser test showed no alcohol impairment, officials said. The recreational boat stayed in the accident area for a short time; officers encountered it about 3.5 miles away. Officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission were working with the State Attorney's Office to determine if any charges would be filed, officials said. Emergency dispatchers answering 911 calls from the accident scene heard 'horrific screaming' in the background, said Clearwater Police Chief Eric Gandy. The injured passengers had broken bones, soft-tissue injuries and head injuries, said Tony Tedesco, EMS chief for Clearwater Fire Rescue. All of those injured were adults aboard the ferry. Rescue workers gather at the Seminole boat ramp north of the crash scene (Douglas R Clifford/Tampa Bay Times/AP) 'When our crews first arrived, they found themselves in the water trying to rescue people,' Mr Tedesco said. 'On top of that, they're trying to figure out who was the most injured.' The ferry came to rest on a sandbar just south of the Memorial Causeway bridge. 'You never expect any of this to happen,' Brenda Alvarez said. 'We can't understand how fast they were going, like how that is even logically possible that they hit and were able to get off like that.' The family was not injured in the crash. The US Coast Guard said in a social media post that on-scene reports indicated that all 45 people on the ferry and all six people on the boat were accounted for. 'All local hospitals have been notified. Multiple trauma alerts have been called with helicopters transporting two of the more seriously injured,' the post said. Investigators search the wreckage of the Clearwater Ferry after the crash (Douglas R Clifford/Tampa Bay Times/AP) Videos on social media showed several first responders rushing to the scene with lights flashing. Several Good Samaritans also helped the ferry passengers get to safety, officials said. Sunday was the last day of the Sugar Sand Festival, a 17-day sand-sculpting festival in Clearwater Beach. The Coast Guard said the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission will lead the investigation into the cause of the crash.
Metro
28-04-2025
- Metro
One person dead and multiple injured after boat crashes into ferry
Police are still hunting the driver of the boat that crashed into the ferry last night(Picture: AP) One person has died and several people were injured on Sunday when a boat crashed in Florida. Emergency services were called to the Memorial Causeway Bridge after the boat hit the ferry and then fled the scene just after 10pm local time. The Clearwater Police Department posted on X that there were multiple injuries and the crash had been declared 'a mass casualty incident' by the Clearwater Fire & Rescue Department due to the number of injuries. Authorities did not immediately provide the number of those who were hurt. At least one person has been killed after the crash last night(Picture: Douglas R Clifford/Tampa Bay Tim) Emergency services were called to the Tampa Bay area just after 10pm last night (Picture: Douglas R Clifford/Tampa Bay Tim) The post said: 'All local hospitals have been notified. Multiple trauma alerts have been called with helicopters transporting two of the more seriously injured.' Videos on social media showed several first responders rushing to the scene with lights flashing. Police cautioned drivers to avoid the Memorial Causeway. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. Arrow MORE: CIA official's son killed fighting for Putin took childhood rebellion to extreme Arrow MORE: Prime Minister sends support to dads of Southport victims running London Marathon Arrow MORE: Human remains found in abandoned caravan with urgent investigation launched
