Jeffry Knight faces charges in fatal Clearwater Ferry accident

In Clearwater, Florida, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced that Jeffry Knight, the individual responsible for crashing into the Clearwater Ferry back in April, has been taken into custody. Knight faces eight counts of felony charges for leaving the scene of a boating accident involving death or serious injuries. The incident occurred when the 62-year-old collided his private boat with the ferry, causing the death of one person and injuring 10 others among the 44 passengers on board. Knight fled the scene of the crash and was apprehended by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office as he attempted to head south to his residence. Maj. Evan Laskowski, FWC Southwest Regional Commander, commended the collaborative efforts of various agencies in seeking justice for those affected by this tragic event. Additionally, the State Attorney's Office for the Sixth Judicial Circuit will press misdemeanor charges against Knight, such as failure to maintain a safe speed and negligence resulting in a fatal boating accident. Following Knight's arrest, José Castro's family, the man who tragically lost his life in the crash, shared their thoughts. Besides his legal troubles, Knight is also facing civil lawsuits from individuals injured in the accident, including one filed in July.