Clearwater Ferry crash: 1 dead and 10 hospitalized, boat involved located

A boat crash involving the Clearwater Ferry killed one person and sent 10 others to the hospital on Sunday night, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.Officials say the crash happened near the Memorial Causeway Bridge, which connects downtown Clearwater to Clearwater Beach between 8:30 p.m. and 8:40 p.m.According to FWC, there were 44 people on board the ferry at the time of the collision. Investigations said there were six people on board a 37-foot recreational vehicle that struck the ferry. Post-impact, FWC officials say the recreational boat went to the Belleair boat ramp while first responders with the FWC, Clearwater Police Department, Clearwater Fire Department, Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Coast Guard helped the passengers on board the ferry, secured the scene and began investigating. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, one person was killed and 10 were taken to area hospitals. Two of the victims had to be flown to hospitals for treatment due to the severity of their injuries. Emergency officials are calling the boat crash a mass casualty event because of the severity of the injuries, and because the number of people injured exceeded response resources available.Those who were injured were triaged at the Seminole Boat Ramp and taken to various hospitals for additional treatment. A witness said they saw a boat heading straight for the ferry moments before the crash, giving the passengers little time to brace for impact. "I fell between two seats. I couldn’t get up and all I saw was people just screaming and running and trying to react to what happened," said Brenda Alvarez, a passenger on the ferry. "My first thing was to make sure my kids were okay and my husband was okay. We just did what we could to help the people who were more injured than we were."Officials say several people fell into the water post-impact. Shortly after the crash, emergency officials searched the water and located all the victims. FWC officials said both vessels have been secured as evidence, but did not elaborate. As of 2:30 p.m. on Monday, law enforcement officers did not say who owns the boat or who may have been driving it at the time of the crash. Clearwater Mayor Bruce Rector took to social media shortly after the crash, posting, "We are all praying for those involved in the boat accident just south of the Memorial Causeway tonight. We are also thankful for our Clearwater and Pinellas County first responders, the US Coast Guard and the Florida Department of Fish and Wildlife for acting so quickly to save lives and investigate the incident."In a statement, FWC shared, "The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission extends our heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of the victim, as well as to all those injured and impacted by this tragic incident."Clearwater police say one of the ferry crew members likely helped save lives Sunday night."A very challenging job, in the nighttime, in the water, trying to figure out who our most injured are, and where are you coming from and what boat are you associated with," Clearwater Fire Rescue EMS Chief Tony Tedesco said.The FWC says this was a dynamic scene with multiple locations involved, and that the investigation will take time."We use a lot of lidar equipment and a bunch of laser-guided stuff to really map damage and put things back together," said FWC's Matthew Dallarosa. "That's sometimes what will delay these investigations a bit. It seems like it should be pretty easy to put one thing together with something else, but it's really not as simple as laying things over each other.""You really got to figure out what was pre-existing. If anyone's owned a boat, unfortunately, they bump against docks and things like that. It happens, so every scratch may be valid, or it may not, based on the accident that occurred, and how do you corroborate those things with it?" Dallarosa finished.FWC investigators say they spoke with the driver of the recreational boat at the scene Sunday night. They say he was cooperative and did a voluntary breathalyzer test, which came back with a reading of zero.The FWC has been interviewing witnesses and boaters as the investigation continues.Although the recreational boat left the scene of the crash, the FWC says it is not clear whether the crash will be investigated as a hit-and-run at this point.FWC critical incident personnel are canvassing the area for surveillance footage and potential witnesses, and the United States Coast Guard is conducting a concurrent investigation into the commercial passenger vessel.The Clearwater Ferry takes people from Coachman Park to Clearwater Beach.STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: