One person has died and several were injured after a boat crashed into a ferry in Florida on Sunday, authorities said.
The Clearwater Police Department posted on X that there were multiple injuries following the crash off the Memorial Causeway Bridge. The boat that crashed into the ferry fled the scene.
Police later declared the crash “a mass casualty incident” due to the number of injuries.
All of those injured were aboard the ferry, which was carrying more than 40 people. Police did not provide any information about the person who died.
The ferry came to rest on a sandbar just south of the Memorial Causeway bridge and all patients and passengers have been removed.
Police did not immediately provide any information about the boat that fled the scene.
Authorities did not immediately provide the number of those who were hurt.
“All local hospitals have been notified. Multiple trauma alerts have been called with helicopters transporting two of the more seriously injured,” the post said.
Videos on social media showed several first responders rushing to the scene with lights flashing.
Police cautioned drivers to avoid Memorial Causeway.
The US Coast Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will investigate the crash.
