CLEARWATER, Fla. — The City of Clearwater said one person has died and 10 people were injured following a boat crash near the Memorial Causeway bridge.
ABC Action News spoke with Clearwater Mayor Bruce Rector, who said the Clearwater Ferry was in a collision with a privately owned boat carrying six people.
Clearwater Ferry’s Mayday call to Coast Guard
Coast Guard Mayday Call
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said the boat then departed the scene and traveled to Belleair Boat Ramp. Both vessels involved have been secured as evidence.
WATCH: Boat collides with ferry in Clearwater
1 dead and multiple injuries reported following boat hit-and-run near Memorial Causeway bridge
According to Rob Shaw with the City of Clearwater, 45 people were on board the ferry at the time of the crash, including two crew members. Twelve people were injured, with six listed as trauma alerts. Two of the trauma alerts were flown to Baycare Health with various minor injuries.
BayCare Health System said it received nine patients in total at three of its hospitals, and as of Monday morning, one person remains hospitalized.
WATCH: Clearwater Police gives update on Monday afternoon after deadly ferry crash
Clearwater boat crash press conference
A passenger, Brenda Alvarez, who is 31 weeks pregnant, told ABC Action News, “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. It’s very scary. I fell between two seats, and my whole body hurts right now. We just wanted to get to our cars and get home. You never expect anything to happen. We can’t understand how fast they were going, like how that was even logically possible that they hit and were able to get off like that. We have a 3-year-old and 1-year-old with us, and I’m pregnant, and I don’t know, it’s horrible. It shattered the whole back of the boat, left a huge dent.”
According to her husband, the doctor checked her out and said she and the baby will be okay after an ultrasound.
Shaw sent us this video of the scene:
Multiple injuries reported following boat crash in Clearwater
Officials said Clearwater Police and Clearwater Fire and Rescue were on scene following a call at 8:43 p.m. It was the end of the 17-day Sugar Sand Festival tonight, so a lot of people were taking the ferry back and forth for the festival.
Officials said that they believe everyone has been accounted for and no one was reported missing. The FWC is continuing to canvas the area for surveillance footage and witnesses. The United States Coast Guard is also investigating.
PSTA and Clearwater Ferry released a joint statement following the incident:
“We are heartbroken for the person who lost their life, everyone who was hurt, and their families. 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.”
WFTS
We are working to find out more about this incident. This is an ongoing story, and any new information will be updated in this article as it becomes available.
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