Last Sunday evening, a devastating collision between a ferry and a passing boat in Clearwater, Florida, left a trail of destruction and heartbreak. The incident, which has been declared a mass casualty incident by the fire department, resulted in the tragic loss of one life and injured 12 others.
The Clearwater Ferry, carrying 45 passengers, including two crew members, was struck by the boat as it traversed the waters near the Memorial Causeway Bridge. BayCare Health System received nine patients at three of their hospitals, with all but one treated and released by Monday morning.
According to eyewitness accounts, the collision occurred without warning. “We were just enjoying the ride, and then all of a sudden we hear the first mate yelling, ‘Hey, hey, hey,'” said a passenger, recalling the chaos that ensued. “And then we looked back behind us and this big yacht just came through the boat.”
The unidentified recreational boat, carrying six people, fled the scene immediately after the collision. However, it was later tracked down by a responding agency, bringing some sense of closure to an otherwise harrowing incident.
First responders and emergency personnel quickly responded to the scene, securing all patients and passengers from the ferry, which came to rest on a sandbar just south of the bridge. The Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg received notification at approximately 8:40 pm, triggering an immediate response effort.
In the aftermath of this tragic event, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will be leading the investigation into the collision, with further details about the second vessel involved yet to be released.
As Clearwater mourns the loss of one life and prays for the speedy recovery of those injured, we are reminded of the importance of vigilance on our waterways and the need for responsible boating practices. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this senseless tragedy.
Sourced from https://abcnews.go.com