• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Everything we know after boat crashes into ferry carrying up to 50 passengers leaving at least one dead

Home> News> US News

Updated 12:39 28 Apr 2025 GMT+1Published 12:19 28 Apr 2025 GMT+1

Everything we know after boat crashes into ferry carrying up to 50 passengers leaving at least one dead

The crash has been declared a 'mass casualty incident'

Niamh Shackleton

Niamh Shackleton

Authorities have declared a 'mass casualty incident' after a boat collided with a ferry carrying up to 50 people.

Around 8:30pm local time yesterday (April 27), a privately owned boat crashed into a ferry near Florida's Memorial Causeway.

"Along with @clearwaterfire, we’re working a boat crash off the Memorial Causeway bridge that has resulted in multiple injuries," the Clearwater Police Department said in a statement shared on social media.

Advert

"It’s been declared a mass casualty incident by the fire department due to the number of injuries. All local hospitals have been notified. Multiple trauma alerts have been called with helicopters transporting two of the more seriously injured. Drivers should avoid Memorial Causeway."

Have there been any deaths?

At the time of writing, one person is confirmed to have died in last night's crash. Law enforcement said in its most recent update: "One person has died from injuries in tonight’s boat crash. @MyFWC will be handing the crash investigation."

Advert

As well as one death, multiple people have been injured in the ordeal including six who have been declared as 'trauma alerts', meaning that they've experienced 'series injury' that requires immediate and specialized care.

Two of the six patients had to transported to hospital by helicopter.

All of the injured people had been on the ferry.

Where were the seriously injured taken?

Four people were reportedly taken to Morton Plant Hospital, located less than a mile from the crash site, Tampa Bay Times reports.

Advert

The incident sparked a huge rescue operation (10 Tampa Bay)
The incident sparked a huge rescue operation (10 Tampa Bay)

Elsewhere, two female patients were transported to Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital in St. Petersburg where they have a Level II trauma center.

Another patient was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa.

Have there been any arrests?

There's yet to be any arrests made as the person driving the boat that crashed into ferry fled the scene. With this in mind, officials are asking for people to come forward with information.

Advert

Information officer Rob Shaw with the City of Clearwater said, as per ABC Action News: "We believe the boat responsible for hitting the ferry left the scene immediately and we believe our law enforcement partners are at another location with that boat right now, but we are still asking anybody who has information anyone that witnessed anything anyone that may have any video to contact us."

Six people are said to have been seriously injured in the crash (WKMG News 6 ClickOrlando)
Six people are said to have been seriously injured in the crash (WKMG News 6 ClickOrlando)

According to Tampa Bay Times, the driver of the boat has since been successfully located. The news outlet said that 'a large police scene later developed around a center console boat just a few miles from the scene'.

The individual, who has not been identified, was said to have been found by a partnering law enforcement agency.

Featured Image Credit: YouTube/10TampaBay

Topics: Florida, News, Police

Niamh Shackleton
Niamh Shackleton

Niamh Shackleton is an experienced journalist for UNILAD, specialising in topics including mental health and showbiz, as well as anything Henry Cavill and cat related. She has previously worked for OK! Magazine, Caters and Kennedy.

X

@niamhshackleton

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

8 hours ago
9 hours ago
  • 8 hours ago

    Experts issue urgent warning against popular new tanning 'drug' that could cause brain swelling and cancer

    The viral trend promises to give users a natural glowing tan

    News
  • 9 hours ago

    Horrifying details emerge after plane carrying 200 passengers flies with no pilot after first officer collapsed

    The plane was diverted and thankfully all 200 passengers onboard landed safely.

    News
  • 9 hours ago

    Family win $100,000 in settlement after being accused of not paying $200 bill

    Peter and Ann McGirr were slammed in a Facebook post which falsely claimed they hadn't paid their bill

    News
  • 9 hours ago

    Chilling story of man who told family he was leaving with aliens and hasn't been seen since

    What happened to Granger Taylor has remained a mystery for 45 years

    News
  • Law-breaking memo Trump administration allegedly sent to immigration agents amid deportations to 'world's worst prison'
  • Everything we know after 8 people found dead in area within weeks as serial killer fears heighten
  • Plane crashes into river leaving 3 people dead as police issue statement
  • Everything we know so far after tourist submarine sinks leaving 6 people dead