A devastating hit-and-run boat crash in Florida Sunday night was declared a "mass casualty incident" after a speeding recreational boat hit a ferry carrying families from a sand sculpting festival.
@my_florida A web cam in Clearwater captured the moment at sunset as the Clearwater Ferry, with over 40 people on board, was run over by a large center console fishing boat. The pirate cruise arrives shortly after and begins searching for survivors in the water. The boat that hit the ferry appears to try and help before leaving the scene about 11 min after the accident. #clearwaterferryaccident #clearwater #clearwaterferry #breakingnews #clearwaterbeach #captainmemospiratecruise #fyp #fypシ #fypシ゚viral #fypage ♬ original sound - my_florida
The ferry, with about 45 people on board, was traveling from Clearwater's Sugar Sand Festival when it was violently hit just before 8:45 pm, CNN reported. Good Samaritans rushed in with private boats to help evacuate passengers, while firefighters waded into the water to assist the injured.
Officials declared the scene a mass casualty event, with six trauma alerts and at least 12 people transported to the hospital. One of the injured victims later died, police confirmed.
"We can't understand how fast they were going, like how that was even logically possible," pregnant passenger Brenda Alvarez told ABC Action News. She was on the ferry with her 1 and 3-year-olds. "It's horrible. It shattered the whole back of the boat, left a huge dent."
The recreational boat responsible for the collision fled the scene but was later located by authorities, Clearwater police spokesperson Rob Shaw told Bay News 9.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is leading the ongoing investigation.
@my_florida A bystander captured the moment the large center console boat was leaving the scene after colliding into the Clearwater Ferry, with over 40 people on board. ##clearwaterferryaccident##clearwater##clearwaterferry##breakingnews##clearwaterbeach##captainmemospiratecruise##fyp##fypシ##fypシ゚viral##fypage ♬ original sound - my_florida
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