One dead and multiple injured after hit-and-run boat crash in Florida

Mallory Moench
BBC News
Javier Vazquez/via REUTERS Emergency service members and police officers gather at the scene following a ferry crash, in Clearwater, Florida, U.S., April 27, 2025 in this screen grab obtained from a social media video.Javier Vazquez/via REUTERS

One person has died and multiple others were seriously injured after a boat crash in the city of Clearwater, Florida, police have said.

The Clearwater Ferry, which had 45 people on board, including two crew members, was struck by a boat which then left the scene. The boat was later identified by another law enforcement agency, Clearwater government officials said.

The fire department declared a mass casualty event because of the "number and severity of injuries". Two of the injured were transported to hospital via helicopter.

All of the injuries were from the ferry, which came to rest on a sandbar.

Police responded at 20:43 local time on Sunday (00:43 GMT on Monday).

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will handle the crash investigation, assisted by the Coast Guard.