The victim of Sunday night’s fatal hit-and-run boat crash in Clearwater Bay has been identified as Jose Castro, 41, of Palm Harbor. New details are emerging about the tragic incident, which involved a 37-foot pleasure boat colliding with the 40-foot Clearwater Ferry, a vessel that serves as a passenger transport between the mainland and the beach areas. The crash has left the Clearwater community shaken and prompted a large-scale, multi-agency investigation.
According to officials, the operator of the recreational vessel has been identified as Jeffrey Knight. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Coast Guard, and other agencies are collaborating on the investigation, which remains ongoing. Authorities are piecing together the sequence of events that led to the crash and its devastating aftermath.
Captain Matthew Dallarosa of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission confirmed Monday afternoon that Castro was one of 45 passengers aboard the Clearwater Ferry at the time of the collision. Tragically, Castro succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
In addition to the fatality, at least ten other ferry passengers sustained injuries ranging from broken bones to head trauma and other soft tissue injuries. Clearwater Emergency Medical System Chief Tony Tedesco classified the incident as a “Level One Mass Casualty” event, underscoring the seriousness and scale of the emergency response.
Clearwater Police and Clearwater Fire & Rescue responded promptly to a 911 call received at 8:43 p.m. Simultaneously, the United States Coast Guard received a maritime distress call from the ferry crew: “Mayday, mayday, mayday! There’s been a boat collision. The Clearwater Ferry, underneath the Clearwater Memorial Causeway. The Clearwater Ferry is adrift.” This urgent call set into motion a coordinated rescue effort.
Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene. One ferry passenger recounted to CNN how, moments before impact, the ferry’s first mate began yelling, “Hey! Hey! Hey!” in warning. “We looked back behind us, and this big yacht just came through the boat,” the passenger said, describing the terror of the sudden collision. The ferry eventually drifted into shallow water, where some passengers were able to get out and walk to shore, aided by good Samaritans who rushed to help.
All injured passengers were initially triaged at the Seminole Boat Ramp. Two critically injured individuals were airlifted to area hospitals, while eight others were transported by ambulance. The seriousness of the injuries and the quick response of emergency services likely prevented further loss of life.
Video footage from a nearby city park has provided crucial evidence in the investigation. The dimly-lit clip shows the ferry moving slowly eastward in the channel under the Memorial Causeway bridge, its running lights clearly visible. A blue-and-white center console pleasure boat, traveling at a much higher speed, approaches from behind. The smaller vessel strikes the ferry’s stern on the starboard side, causing its bow to rise sharply into the air before crashing down. After the impact, the pleasure boat is seen backing away and separating from the ferry.
Authorities report that within minutes of the collision, the recreational vessel fled the scene, traveling more than three miles to come ashore at the Belleair Boat Ramp. There, the operator, Jeffrey Knight, was located. Knight submitted to a Breathalyzer test, and authorities confirmed that no alcohol was detected in his system at the time. However, the investigation into possible charges remains active, with agencies examining factors such as speed, negligence, and failure to render aid.
The Clearwater Ferry, operated by the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority since 2015, has served as a reliable transportation link between Clearwater’s mainland and beaches. Sunday night’s tragedy marks one of the most serious incidents in its history.
