Aboat crashed into a ferry Sunday night in the waters off Clearwater, Fla., then sped off in a hit-and-run incident that authorities declared a “mass casualty” event.
Police urged cars and boats to stay away from the Memorial Causeway bridge as firefighters tended to injured passengers on the Clearwater Ferry, which was carrying more than 40 people.
“It’s been declared a mass casualty incident by the fire department due to the number of injuries,” Clearwater Police said in a post on X. “All local hospitals have been notified. Multiple trauma alerts have been called with helicopters transporting two of the more seriously injured.”
“All of the injuries are from the ferry. The boat that struck the ferry fled the scene,” police added.
Authorities said the Coast Guard would be leading an investigation of the crash.