Incident Overview

In a serious maritime incident off the coast of Clearwater, Florida, a boat collided with the Clearwater Ferry carrying over 40 passengers. The collision resulted in multiple injuries and necessitated airlift operations to transport at least two individuals to local hospitals.

Response and Investigation

Emergency response units, including Clearwater Police, Clearwater Fire & Rescue, and the U.S. Coast Guard, promptly attended to the crash site located near the Memorial Causeway bridge. Due to the number of injured individuals, authorities declared it a “mass casualty event.”

The ferry, after being struck, ended up grounded on a sandbar just south of the bridge, complicating rescue efforts.

Current Status

As of late Sunday evening, authorities had not released specific details regarding the total number of injuries sustained during the incident. The investigation into the collision is being led by the Coast Guard in collaboration with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Updates and Further Information

As this is a developing story, further details will be provided as they become available. Residents and interested parties are encouraged to stay informed through local news channels, including WSVN.com and 7News.