CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) identified the victim who died in the ferry boat crash near the Memorial Causeway on Sunday evening.
Jose Castro, 41, of Palm Harbor, was identified as the victim who died in the ferry boat crash, FWC confirmed Monday.
The City of Clearwater said one person has died and 10 people were injured following a boat crash near the Memorial Causeway bridge. Six were listed as trauma alerts. Two of the trauma alerts were flown to Baycare Health with various minor injuries.
44 people were on board the ferry at the time of the crash.
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.
FWC said that after the collision with the ferry, the boat captain then left the scene and traveled to Belleair Boat Ramp.
The Ferry boat captain was identified as Dennis Kimerer, and the captain of the private boat was identified as Jeffry Knight, FWC said.
Officials have not filed any charges in this case, according to FWC.
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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:
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."
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