Latest news with #JeffKnight
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Clearwater condo residents unable to return as crews stabilize cracked pillar
CLEARWATER, Fla. (WFLA) – Crews were at work Wednesday stabilizing and repairing a cracked pillar in a Clearwater Beach condo building. On Tuesday, residents were forced to evacuate from the South Beach III condominium building on Sand Key. Construction crews remained on scene the following day. Lawsuit filed against Jeff Knight in deadly Clearwater Ferry crash 'They shored up the first floor and the second floor, and then they still have to continue to shore up the entire 12-floor building,' said Clearwater Fire Division Chief Jevon Graham. 'There was a support column that was compromised.' The split prompted a massive response on Gulf Boulevard. Sixty people were forced to evacuate, and some residents were carried out on stretchers. Residents will not be able to return home until the project is complete. 'They had to do at least 18 struts and 18 shoring mechanisms for the first floor,' Graham said. 'As they go up again, they just make sure that it's stable and it disperses and supports the weight. They use steel struts and steel beams to make sure that the column isn't going to come down and that the floor and roof was under control and supported.' Officials said the crack was discovered amid the condo renovation project to the garage floor. It's one of many renovations taking place over recent months. 'Of course it's scary,' said resident Bruno Polunic. 'It's always scary to see something like that; but thank God everything is OK. Nobody got hurt. Everybody is good.' Last year, an engineering firm conducted a milestone inspection for the Clearwater Key Association, South Beach III Condominium at 1460 Gulf Boulevard. The City of Clearwater released the following statement about the recent milestone inspection report conducted by Karins Engineering: 'Those documents were provided to their Community Association in August and September of 2024, and the city does not have record of receiving these required building milestone inspection reports by the Dec. 31, 2024, deadline. Per Florida Statute, buildings 30 years old before July 1, 2022, must have their initial inspection by Dec. 31, 2024, and meet all the statutory requirements in order to be in compliance.' On Wednesday, city officials received the phase 1 milestone inspection reports that were issued on August 8, 2024, and Sept. 26, 2024. The report states that the engineer did not observe conditions that would compromise the safety of the building for its intended use and occupancy. The city issued a permit to a general contractor for temporary shoring. Officials say there will be a threshold inspection to verify the work and to allow occupancy of the building. Additional work will be needed to complete more substantial repairs. According to officials, the Clearwater Building Official will not allow residents to return to the building until a structural engineer delivers a report with confirmation that the structure is stable and safe to occupy. Meanwhile, Aurora Donnelly is one of dozens who received evacuation orders. 'What goes through your head is Miami, right? So, I'm running down the stairs saying, 'Oh my gosh, I hope the building doesn't fall down,'' Donnelly said. Support columns in the back of the building were taped off. Leaders with the Clearwater Fire and Rescue Division said construction crews saw a crack in one of the beams, noticed the split was widening and called first responders. 'You have a support column that's displaced, so it's probably a couple feet wide, at least. It's still splitting, and again, it's one of the main supports for the structure,' Graham said. The 12-story, 140-unit condo building was constructed in 1980. According to the Clearwater permitting website, the structure was inspected last May. 'It's a very inconvenient thing, but they were able to evacuate the building in time, nobody got hurt and nobody will get hurt. I strongly believe the engineers, the fire department and police are doing the right things,' said resident David Zusman said. The Red Cross is assisting displaced residents. Graham said there isn't a clear timeline for repairs and that residents likely won't be able to return until structural engineers give the 'all clear.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
Authorities seek video of deadly Clearwater ferry crash
Video above: Who is Jeff Knight? Legal history of boater FWC says was involved in Clearwater ferry crash CLEARWATER, Fla. (WFLA) — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is looking for footage from the area where Sunday's fatal crash between a ferry and recreational boat occurred. Emergency crews responded to the area near the Memorial Causeway Bridge at around 8:43 p.m. Who is Jeff Knight? Legal history of boater FWC says was involved in Clearwater ferry crash The agency is seeking video taken between 8 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. Cameras at nearby restaurants, hotels and homes may have captured the incident and what led up to it, FWC said. Anyone with information or relevant footage is asked to contact FWC by calling its 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. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
‘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.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Yahoo
Seminole boater shares his encounter with Clearwater Ferry days before fatal crash
Video above from previous story: Passengers on Jeff Knight's boat describe fatal ferry crash: 'Where the f*** were their lights?' CLEARWATER, Fla. (WFLA)— A sworn statement was released from a Seminole boater that details his encounter with the Clearwater Ferry days before the fatal crash. 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. Boater, Ryan Smith, also known as 'Tug,' said he has two boats and fishes 4 to 5 days a week. In the sworn statement, Smith stated that 10 days earlier, on a Thursday or Friday, he had finished fishing by the Clearwater Marine Hospital. Smith said in the statement, shortly after dark, he approached the ferry but he thought the ferry was a building in the distance because there were no stern lights. 'Damn, someone is going to run up the a** end of this boat and get killed!' Smith said in the sworn statement. Smith slowed down and passed the ferry on the port side and continued to the Seminole boat ramp. The statement said until this incident, he had never heard of Jeff Knight. Passengers onboard the boat that struck the Clearwater Ferry also wrote sworn letters detailing their experience that night. No charges have been filed in connection to 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. 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.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
XBOX gamer accused of threatening to kill Florida teen, burn house down and make family disappear
PALM COAST, Fla. (WFLA) — An XBOX gamer is accused of making threats towards a Florida teen, threatening to kill him, burn his house down and make his family disappear, the Flagler County Sheriff's Office said. The two-and-a-half-year investigation began in October 2022 when the victim, who was a juvenile at the time, began receiving threatening messages from a video gamer through his XBOX One console. Who is Jeff Knight? Legal history of boater FWC says was involved in Clearwater ferry crash The boy's father told deputies that an individual, known by the gamer tag 'rashaphid#5243,' sent the violent messages and threats. He added that the same person, using the gamer tag 'xrainbowmodsx' at that time, sent similar messages in July 2022, an arrest affidavit said. Several of the messages included statements like, 'I know we're u live next time u spread room your mom dad will be misser by morning,' 'Your famly be misser if speard room agan burn house to ground,' and 'U better shut trap u next person in line famly that I kill.' According to the father, he had never met this person, and the communication was limited to XBOX and Snapchat. The individual was identified as 32-year-old James Maynard, of Maine, who the father noted to have a speech impediment and mentioned living with his mother, the report detailed. FWC says boat operator is 'cooperating'; 'no alcohol' found in his system after ferry crash On Feb. 10, 2025, deputies tracked down the gamer tag to Maynard, confirming his residency in Maine and the linked email address, provided by Microsoft. Google confirmed his identity through the subscriber information associated with the email on March 14. On April 1, the victim told authorities that Maynard had repeatedly altered his profile and tried to contact him through video chats on social media. It was through these chats that the victim identified the 32-year-old as the person threatening him and his family, through his voice and accent, the affidavit said. The victim blocked Maynard after several calls, but the report said Maynard continued his attempts to contact and harass the boy by altering and disguising his username. Maynard was arrested in Maine on April 25 on a charge of written electronic threats to kill or cause bodily harm to another person. 'I commend our Major Case Unit for their hard work and dedication during this extensive over two-year investigation,' said Sheriff Rick Staly. 'I also want to thank the Somerset County Sheriff's Office and Waterville Police Department for their assistance in this case.' This remains an ongoing investigation. Additional charges may be pending, according to the sheriff's office. has reached out to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office for confirmation on the boy's age and to obtain the messages. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
