BREAKING NEWS: Tragic Boat Crash in Florida — One Dead, Twelve Injured After Clearwater Ferry Collision
Clearwater, FL — A tragic boating accident has left one person dead and at least twelve others injured after a high-speed boat slammed into a passenger ferry near the Memorial Causeway Bridge in Clearwater on Sunday evening, April 27, 2025.
The ferry, which was carrying 45 people returning from the Sugar Sand Festival, was struck from behind by a speeding private vessel. The collision caused the ferry to run aground on a sandbar, forcing emergency crews to carry out a dramatic rescue operation.
Paramedics waded through shallow waters to reach the stranded passengers, treating multiple injuries at the scene. Six victims sustained serious trauma, with two airlifted to nearby hospitals. Among the injured was a pregnant woman who later received medical attention.
Authorities confirmed that the boat responsible for the collision fled the scene, prompting a search. It was later found with six uninjured occupants. The operator is cooperating with the ongoing investigation led by Clearwater Police, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Witnesses described the moment of impact as chaotic and terrifying, with some passengers thrown to the deck and others screaming for help. “It was like a nightmare on the water,” one survivor recalled.
Local officials have offered condolences to the victim’s family and pledged a full investigation. The ferry service has been temporarily suspended, and officials are urging all boaters to follow safety regulations and speed limits to prevent future tragedies.
This incident has shocked the Clearwater community and renewed calls for stricter maritime enforcement in busy recreational waterways.
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