Florida Boat Crash Near Clearwater Leaves 1 Dead, Multiple Injured in ‘Mass Casualty’ Event

One person died and many were injured on Sunday after a boat crashed into a ferry near the Memorial Causeway Bridge. The boat then fled the scene, officials said.

The Clearwater Police shared on social media that the crash caused multiple injuries. The Clearwater Fire & Rescue Department called it a “mass casualty incident” due to the high number of hurt people. All injured passengers were on the ferry, which had over 40 people onboard.

Police did not share details about the person who died. The ferry stopped on a sandbar south of the bridge. All passengers and injured people were safely removed.

Local hospitals were alerted, and helicopters rushed two seriously injured victims for treatment, the fire department posted on Facebook. Videos online showed emergency crews with flashing lights at the scene.

Police warned drivers to avoid the Memorial Causeway area. The U.S. Coast Guard and Florida Fish & Wildlife will investigate the crash.