Distressing new audio revealed the moment a Clearwater ferry boat crashed in Florida, leaving one dead and at least a dozen injured, some of them seriously.
‘Mayday, mayday, mayday, there’s been a boat collision! The Clearwater ferry, underneath the Clearwater Memorial Causeway. The Clearwater ferry is adrift,’ the controller was heard shouting as the two watercrafts collided.
Officials, who called it a ‘mass casualty’ accident, said a private boat struck the ferry near the Memorial Causeway bridge on Sunday night before speeding away from the scene.
The Clearwater Ferry was shuttling festivalgoers to and from the final night of the 17-day Sugar Sand Festival when it was hit by a private boat carrying six people.
The private boat was found three hours after it fled the scene, police said.
The US Coast Guard said that on-scene reports indicated that all 45 people on the ferry and all six people on the boat were accounted for.
All of those injured were aboard the ferry. The person who died has not been identified.
On Monday morning, the Coast Guard said a total of 12 people were taken to a local hospital.
The horror crash caused ‘quite a chaotic scene,’ Clearwater Fire and Rescue public information officer Rob Shaw told WFLA.
‘It was quite a chaotic scene when we got here. There were some patients being picked up by neighboring boats,’ he recalled.
‘Good Samaritans were trying to help, there were other patients who were walking ashore because some of the shallow waters here off the bridge, so they were able to. Those who could were able to walk ashore and get medical help.’
Following the terrifying incident, Clearwater Ferry issued a statement, saying how ‘heartbroken’ the company was to hear of the fatal collision.
‘We are heartbroken for the person who lost their life, everyone who was hurt, and their families,’ the company said.
‘We deeply appreciate the dedication of the first responders and others who rushed to help Sunday night. We are cooperating with the investigation. Safety is the top priority for PSTA and the Clearwater Ferry.’
This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.