— Sunday marked one week since the tragic Clearwater Ferry crash took the life of Jose Castro and seriously injured 10 more people Victim who was killed in boat collision near Memorial Causeway bridge has been identified As Castro's family laid him to rest over the weekend no charges have been filed against Jeffry Knight who was operating the boat that crashed into the ferry carrying 44 passengers We can’t let his life be just gone in an instant like that we need justice for these girls that he’s leaving behind," Angie Todd Castro's niece said at his funeral on Saturday The ABC Action News I-Team spoke with a retired Tampa Police Department marine officer about why it can take time before an investigation is completed and the state attorney's office determines whether to file charges Jeffry Knight was cited for 'careless operation' in 2019 crash involving same boat in Clearwater Ferry crash Randy Lopez, who investigated hundreds of boat crashes during his 33-year career and now owns and operates Blue Line Boating a charter boating and boater safety training business told the I-Team the investigation could take 30-45 days The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is leading the investigation to have third-party investigators specifically assigned to the incident Lopez told the I-Team you never want to rush an arrest and risk having someone get off "on a technicality." "They're meticulously going through the evidence," Lopez said “They’re going to look at every possible thing and what they’re going to do is come up with their very best conclusion that’s based on facts and science," Lopez said You want the evidence investigated," Lopez said Matthew Dallarosa said that boat crash investigations are different from vehicle crashes “You’re dealing with a dynamic environment things don’t tend to sit in exactly the same place and it just takes a long process to work all of the way through that," he said Dallarosa said the FWC is working closely with the Pinellas County State Attorney's Office to determine in the crash fits the legal definition of a hit and run “There is evidence that shows that the vessel did remain there for a period of time and then ultimately ended up at the Belleair Boat Ramp separate from the accident location," Dallarosa said He went on to explain that they're working to build a timeline “See who was making what phone calls at what time and again that’s the complexity of an event of this magnitude as well as when it involves boats like this every piece of evidence tries to float away Attorneys told ABC Action News that if someone leaves a fatal boating crash scene without rendering aid that person could face up to 30 years in prison "We’re working through whatever those charges may be and to the fullest extent of the law we will prosecute any crime that is discovered," Dallarosa said noting their work with the state attorney's office Knight's attorney sent a letter requesting the preservation of evidence said his client's actions were consistent with Florida law and that any allegations of leaving the scene are not supported Letter Clearwater Ferry Incident Representation of Mr. Jeffrey Knightby ABC Action News The Clearwater Ferry suspended its service over the weekend "Our hearts are with the victims and families affected and we reiterate our deep gratitude for the first responders and other boaters who helped during this tragic event." Latest Pinellas County News from ABC Action News Report a typo the attorney for Clearwater boat owner Jeffry Knight has sent a second letter to the chief investigator of the April 27 collision between Knight’s vessel and the Clearwater Ferry A passenger aboard the ferry died at the scene Kevin Hayslett tells Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission investigator Richard Schefano that Knight remained at the scene in accordance with Florida Statute 327.30(5) which compels the operator of a vessel involved in a collision to stay and render aid This is consistent with Hayslett’s initial letter to Shefano No charges have been filed in the incident Hayslett includes what he says are handwritten notarized statements from several passengers on Knight’s boat and he said to call 911,” Kathryn Talbert wrote “One of the other girls on the boat called while I went back to check on my friends Everyone was yelling to go back to the boat to be sure people were not in the water and there was a big ship there that was also helping We pulled up to the boat and I was asking if anyone on board needed to get to shore or if there was any way we could help I asked the passengers closest to us when we tied on to their boat if anyone needed to be rushed to shore They said two people were pretty hurt but no one got aboard when we offered Next thing I know we saw the cops and EMT arriving on shore.” One of Knight’s passengers was on board with an 8-week-old infant “I went to look at what happened and realized we hit another vessel …,” wrote Alexis Ringel “What do you want us to do?” He said call the cops Katie was busy checking in on all of us and the baby I answered questions about where we were and if anyone was hurt While on the phone we went to the other boat and Jeff tied his boat to theirs “I saw EMTs and police pulling up to the vessel and Jeff untied the boat from ours Blair (was) still hysterical while holding (the baby).” Video from a stationary camera at a nearby park shows Knight’s boat remaining in the area for approximately eight minutes Police caught up with it at a boat ramp three miles to the south Ringel’s 911 call lasted the entire 11 minutes is quoted: “I heard Jeff screaming “What the f*** Blair came to the rear of the boat and sat on the ground with the baby and I was consoling her I heard Katie ask “Jeff what can I do?” Jeff responded and told her to call 911.” Alexis called 911 and Jeff pulled his boat up to the ferry to tie them to his boat (so officials could access the boat He put them in about 3ft of water near the shore).” The attorney concluded by saying the 40-foot ferry was operating without stern lights when Knight’s boat approached it from the rear “From the sworn witness statements already in your possession there is consistent and credible evidence that no stern light was visible at the time of the incident,” Hayslett wrote “… Our lighting and reconstruction experts will seek to evaluate the exact position and arc of visibility of the stern light (if any) Our intent is to determine whether the ferry’s lighting complied not just generally as required for commercial vessels operating with passengers aboard.” Investigators have no issued any public statements Knight was given a Breathalyzer test at the boat ramp A GoFundMe page opened by his family has so far brought in more than $37,0000 The boat owned by Jeffry Knight of Clearwater is removed from the scene by investigators April 27 More questions than answers in deadly ferry collision Victim, boat operator’s names released in fatal Clearwater accident Jeffry Knight, Jannus Live sever ties The ferry is part of the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority This accident involves a Death and multiple injuries on Public Transportation they must be notified if a bone bigger than a finger or toe is broken or if there is substantial damage to the aircraft as well as those related to the transportation of hazardous materials Why was Knight only given a BAC test but no blood test Isnt a blood test required at an accident resulting in a fatality Are pleasure boats/yachts required to have headlights “I asked the passengers closest to us when we tied on to their boat if anyone needed to be rushed to shore Would anyone choose to board a boat that had just collided from the rear (stern) of the ferry you were on most opinion in Clearwater is that the girls had been drinking and were sitting down in the seats..so they wouldn’t see anything anyway…no view and they were drinking who has a history of distracted/altered/influenced driving and partying of one sort or another was not paying attention or was under the influence of something If the boat was taking on water why not beach it on the sandbar Everyone can see a rear light on the Ferry boat and to blame Clearwater Ferry for this is appalling…We also see Katie Talbert is in the music biz in DT St Pete and has posted about things at Janus Live Knight’s venue…Interesting and not credible Add your idea below. Review Catalyst posting guidelines here. By posting a comment, I have read, understand and agree to the Posting Guidelines Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value" Students rocket toward STEM careers at community hub 2025 Florida legislative session extended through June 6 The Catalyst honors its name by aggregating & curating the sparks that propel the St Pete engine.  It is a modern news platform, powered by community sourced content and augmented with directed coverage your perspective and your spark to the St Pete Catalyst and take your seat at the table Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_4" ).setAttribute( "value" Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2020 The St Petersburg Group Enter the details of the person you want to share this article with This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page violent and arbitrary as Sunday night’s Clearwater Ferry crash was it also seemed like an obvious crime scene Onlookers watched as the boat that slammed into the ferry drove away Police later found the boat and its driver nearly 4 miles away Retrieved footage soon revealed the seconds leading up to the crash — that boat driving a clear path directly into the ferry One person, Jose Castro, 41, was killed despite the abundance of eyewitnesses and footage it’s unclear how the criminal investigation will proceed or whom The online outcry only grows: Why hasn’t an arrest been made the boater who says he was driving when he hit the ferry Complicating the case is where it took place: on water. Investigations into maritime crashes are often complex and take time, usually far longer than highway collisions. So what comes next? And who, if anyone, could be held responsible? Amid the bedlam of a crash, law enforcement must first address the safety of everyone involved, said Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Capt. Matthew Dallarosa. Only after the waters calm and everyone is accounted for can officials retrace events. It’s difficult, because evidence can float away. “Vessel accident investigations are very different than vehicle accident investigations,” Dallarosa said during a news conference Monday. “Tides and winds shift everything around.” Wildlife officials typically use lidar, a technology that creates high-resolution models, to map damage and piece together the scene, Dallarosa said. In this instance, Dallarosa said investigators also must consider the size and weight of each boat to determine how the collision played out. Matthew Dallarosa, center, of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, flanked by Evan Laskowski, left, also of FWC, and Clearwater police Chief Eric Gandy, right, speaks during a news conference Monday after a deadly boat crash involving a Clearwater Ferry on Sunday night. [ CHRIS O'MEARA | AP ]Spend your days with HayesSubscribe to our free Stephinitely newsletter You’re all signed up!Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started. The boats themselves present a challenge Unlike cars that are largely made of steel which can bend and be more resilient in crashes a former captain for the wildlife commission and maritime law adjunct professor at Florida State University said he’s seen investigations take as long as a year “It depends entirely on the accident,” Richard said City footage of the crash shows the recreational boat plowing into the back of the ferry The Coast Guard captured the chilling distress call underneath the Clearwater Memorial Causeway Law enforcement found Knight and his boat about 3½ miles away Wildlife officials said Monday they were working with the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney’s Office to determine whether Knight had committed a hit-and-run leaving the scene of a boat crash involving death is considered a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison Leaving the scene of a car crash involving death is considered a first-degree felony we’re committed to working those charges all the way through,” Dallarosa said disputing the notion that Knight had committed a hit-and-run Hayslett’s letter states that immediately after the crash Knight directed a passenger on his boat to call 911 and that person remained on the line for nearly 12 minutes He also tied his vessel to the ferry to stabilize it and render aid and the mother of an 8-week-old on board pleaded for “immediate transport,” leading Knight to motor to shore Hayslett reiterated that Knight directed passengers on his boat to call for help The letter included sworn statements from some of Knight’s passengers a passenger described hearing Knight yelling a Palm Beach defense attorney and former Florida Bar president said it’s important not to jump to conclusions in this type of case “If his boat and his occupants were in danger that certainly is something that needs to be taken into consideration because you don’t want to increase the tragedy here,” Suskauer said a Miami-based maritime lawyer and University of Miami adjunct professor “so far as he or she can do without serious danger” to their own boat Karcher said it will be up to law enforcement to determine whether the crash is considered a hit-and-run The Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney’s Office will have the final say in whether it will bring charges The State Attorney’s Office has previously declined to comment on the case Law enforcement has not said what factors may have contributed to the crash particularly as Knight’s previous history has surfaced One major question has arisen: his sobriety Knight has a history of run-ins with the law He has been arrested three times on charges of driving while impaired He pleaded no contest each time and received probation and fines In 2012, Knight was on his yacht, Pure Knight Life, in the waters off the Renaissance Vinoy Resort with a group of friends after a night of partying, police said, when one of them fell off the boat. The man hit his head on the way down and drowned The Medical Examiner’s Office found the man had alcohol and cocaine in his system Knight cooperated with law enforcement after the ferry crash and consented to a Breathalyzer A blood test would show if he’d had drugs in his system officials would only say that they intend to provide an update soon An investigator leads Jeff Knight up a gangway at the Belleair boat ramp south of the site of a crash involving a Clearwater Ferry on Sunday CLIFFORD | Times ]Florida law requires that for law enforcement to force someone to provide a blood sample they first have to observe certain attributes This gives them what’s known as “probable cause” to forcefully take a blood sample Richard said such a test requires a search warrant signed by a judge unless there’s no possibility of getting one before a person sobers up When asked by the Times about the significance of officials asking Knight to voluntarily take a Breathalyzer test Suskauer agreed that this likely meant officials didn’t have probable cause to draw blood there most likely would have been an arrest immediately for boating under the influence .. there needs to be a thorough investigation,” Suskauer said Karcher said certain rules on the water are expected of boaters “They have their own rules of the road in terms of boats approaching each other what direction they’re coming from,” Karcher said This week, Rodney Barreto was reconfirmed as the chairperson of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission despite public opposition stemming partly from how the agency handled a Biscayne Bay boat crash that killed 17-year-old Luciana Fernandez The Miami Herald reported on flaws in the investigation, which led officials to reevaluate their initial misdemeanor charges against the boat driver and charge him with felony vessel homicide. Legislation dubbed Lucy’s Law would increase penalties for certain boating violations, including leaving the scene of a crash involving a death. The legislation would increase the penalty for leaving after someone died to a first-degree felony, which carries up to 30 years in prison. The bill was passed by the Florida House and Senate and awaits approval from the governor, according to reporting from CBS News Miami. Richard, the former wildlife investigator, said it’s too early to speculate if charges will be brought in this case. Law enforcement officials investigate a crash involving a Clearwater Ferry at the Memorial Causeway on Sunday. [ JEFFEREE WOO | Times ]However, he described a series of scenarios law enforcement and attorneys must consider if they were to do so. Under Florida law, if someone operating a boat is found to have violated navigation rules ― a set of more than 30 created by the federal government, but adopted by Florida law — and injuries or death have occurred, the punishment is a second-degree misdemeanor, up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. Navigation rules include such things as maintaining proper lookout or maintaining a safe speed, measured by the ability to avoid a collision or to be able to stop. Wildlife officials said they are unsure how fast the boats were going, but the crash investigation will likely give them clues. Where the collision occurred, there was no speed requirement outside of safe operation. “Now, if it’s reckless and you end up killing somebody, it’s vessel homicide; it’s a felony,” Richard said. Florida law makes a distinction between “reckless” and “careless” operation of a boat or vehicle. “Careless is an accident that results from ignorance, inattention or stupidity,” Richard said. “Reckless requires a state of mind.” Richard said that for a jury to convict, prosecutors must be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that an incident occurred while a person knew what they were doing was dangerous. It must be willful, he said. “I’ve never talked to the operator of this boat,” Richard said. “I have no idea what his mental state is, and at this point, I don’t think anybody else does.” Times staff writers Jack Prator and Emily Wunderlich contributed to this report. Michaela Mulligan a climate and environment reporter. Reach her at mmulligan@tampabay.com. the world’s fastest growing combat sports promotion delivered an epic night of action and knockouts on Friday at BKFC Fight Night Clearwater at the sold-out OCC Roadhouse and Museum in Clearwater Friday’s must-see event aired LIVE worldwide on The BKFC App Former BKFC World Light-Heavyweight Champion Jared “Captain Deadpool” Warren needed just 92 seconds to stop Joseph “The Dark Knight” Creer in their light-heavyweight showdown in the BKFC Fight Night Clearwater Main Event 1 NC under the BKFC banner after his TKO victory on Friday 3 contender in the stacked BKFC light-heavyweight division and called for the winner of Mike “The Marine” Richman’s title defense against Josh “D-Day” Dyer set for May 10 in the BKFC 74 Main Event at the iconic Maverik Center in Salt Lake City “I want my belt back,” Warren told the rocking OCC Roadhouse and Museum “I don’t care who wins next week; I just want my belt back.” Clearwater bantamweight “Royal” Ryan Reber was victorious in the BKFC Fight Night Clearwater Co-Main Event edging out the previously undefeated Matt “The Silencer” Guymon in a back-and-forth majority decision Reber scored the lone knockdown of the fight while the two other judges declared Reber the winner Reber is now 7-1 and entered fight night as the No 4 contender in the stacked BKFC bantamweight division with his only loss coming against current BKFC World Bantamweight Champion Alberto “El Indio” Blas Reber called his shot for a rematch in his post-fight interview They're going to have to kill me to take me out Keep that belt warm for me,” Reber told the jam-packed OCC Roadhouse and Museum is now 2-1 in his bare knuckle fighting career Former BKFC World Light-Heavyweight Championship challenger JoMi “Archangel” Escoboza upped his bare knuckle fighting record to 10-2 with a TKO at the expense of Jay “Action” Jackson in their light-heavyweight matchup The ringside doctor called a stop to the fight at the conclusion of the third round after the Coconut Creek FL product Escoboza sent Jackson to the canvas twice FL fighter Jackson is now 5-4 in his BKFC career Clearwater bantamweight Michael “Papa G” Larrimore smashed his way to 3-1 in the Squared Circle with a first-round TKO over Ace “O Spades” Samples Larrimore picked himself up off the canvas and dropped Samples four times leading to the stoppage at 1:26 of the opening frame MT heavyweight Brady “Big Bird” Meister picked himself up off the canvas twice and recorded three knockdowns of his own in his victory over Joseph “The Punisher” White The action-packed bout was called to a stop at the 1:16 mark of Round 2 He is now 2-1 in his BKFC career; the Broward County FL fighter White is now 2-2 under the BKFC banner GA featherweight Nathan “The Reaper” Rivera climbed to 4-0 with a fourth-round KO over Alex “OG” Castro Rivera picked himself up off the canvas and dropped Castro twice The stoppage came at the 1:00 mark of the fourth round Crystal “The Rugged Beauty” Pittman’s and Claudia “Phoenix” Zamora’s matchup in the women’s bantamweight division was declared a No Contest The fight was called to a stop by the ringside doctor after Zamora landed a strike on Pittman when she was grounded Time of the stoppage was 1:30 in the second round while the Miami fighter Zamora was making her BKFC debut FL’s Rodney “The Animal” Hinton turned heads in his BKFC debut sending Ben Jacobsen to the canvas three times en route to the first-round TKO in welterweight action The bout was stopped at the 1:11 mark of the opening frame LA bantamweight Logan Speyrer was victorious in his BKFC debut defeating Quentin “QG” Gaskins via unanimous decision FL’s Anthony “The Devil's Advocate” Yost earned his first BKFC victory with a hard-fought decision over the debuting Chachi Versace in their action-packed flyweight matchup Two judges scored the fight 50-45 and one had it 49-46 Claudia Zamora declared a No Contest in Round 2 (1:30) Quentin Gaskins via Unanimous Decision (49-46x3) Chachi Versace via Unanimous Decision (50-45x2 The Utah fighter is ready to put on a show on Saturday in SLC The Georgia fighter has been waiting many years for this moment badass apparel THAT IS AS TOUGH AS OUR FIGHTERS Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) is the first promotion in the U.S since 1889 to hold legal and regulated bare knuckle events Based in Philadelphia and led by President David Feldman BKFC focuses on preserving the legacy of bare knuckle fighting with a specifically created rule that emphasizes fighter safety For sponsorship inquiries or other questions, please email support@bkfcapp.com and we will route your request to the appropriate member of staff By clicking "Accept", you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. View our Privacy Policy for more information Remembers your preferences and provides enhanced features Measures usage and improves your experience — Braving an early morning and choppy waters dozens of people suited up on Sunday at Clearwater Beach for a good cause “Today is our inaugural Ocean Mile Swim that’s put on by the Clearwater Fire and Rescue beach lifeguards,” said Clearwater beach lifeguard Brooke Bennett “This is the first time that we’re doing this swim to benefit a charity.” “They’re going to go a half mile down the beach south towards the pier and then they’re going to turn and have a fun ride coming back,” said Bennett but only 70 participated due to weather conditions WATCH: Dozens of swimmers dive in on Clearwater Beach for Ocean Mile Swim fundraiser Swimmers had the option to walk a half-mile down the beach and swim a half-mile back and lifeguards were on hand for safety along the mile route and there’s no better way to kick off the month of May than with an event like this,” said Clara Reynolds the President and CEO for the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay The charity of choice was the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay “Our mission is to ensure that no one in our community has to face crisis alone over 170,000 people reached out to the Crisis Center in their time of trouble and so the funds raised today go right back into ensuring that we’re available 24 hours a day The challenge was not for the faint of heart swimmers took it stroke by stroke while giving back to the community “The conditions are a little rough out there but I still enjoyed it,” said swimmer Alexa Atherholt so kudos to everyone out here today finishing.” Over $4,500 was raised for the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay “I think, like more people feel compelled to say something now if they hadn’t been before.”Animal lovers have ramped up their advocacy after being angered by an ABC Action News report about a Polk County shelter falling short of expectations Fla — Jose Castro’s family gathered at the Moss Feaster Funeral Home in Clearwater on Saturday to say their final goodbyes “He was a really happy person,” said Angie Todd “That’s honestly what’s giving us the strength right now to be together and to celebrate his beautiful life because it was not a single day that was without music The 41-year-old, who lived in Palm Harbor, died after last Sunday’s boat crash involving the Clearwater Ferry and a private boat. ABC Action News spoke with Castro’s sister and niece before his Celebration of Life service We didn’t deserve my brother's life be taken away like that,” said Sandy Todd “He was the light and the shine of our days practically Because whenever you come with a negative or a bad day he always turned it around in a positive way,” said Sandy Todd Castro’s family told ABC Action News he was a dedicated father who prioritized family “His whole world was his daughters,” said Sandy Todd People traveled from all over to say their goodbyes on Saturday “That shows us how much my brother loved people and loved everybody,” said Sandy Todd Castro was a post office worker and his family told ABC Action News that he was enjoying a day off and returning from the beach on the ferry last Sunday “He just decided to go to the beach and just relax,” said Sandy Todd Castro was one of 44 people on the Clearwater Ferry, when investigators said a private boat captained by local businessman, Jeff Knight, crashed into them. and 10 other people were seriously injured FWC said Jeff Knight’s boat left the scene after the crash and went to the Belleair Boat Ramp Officials said he did pass a breathalyzer test However, Castro’s family wants answers, and wants charges to be filed. We need justice for these girls that he’s leaving behind,” said Angie Todd They’re just trying to find a way to move forward for now “We’re going to miss him terribly,” said Sandy Todd Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More — The lawyer who represents the boat driver who hit the Clearwater Ferry last month is trying to turn the focus of the investigation onto the ferry Jeff Knight was driving the boat April 27 near the Memorial Causeway Bridge that rammed into the ferry killing one person and hurting several others Spectrum Bay News 9 would not name someone who has not been arrested or charged with a crime But through his attorney J. Kevin Hayslett, Knight admitted he was operating the boat. But denies any negligence. Knight has stepped down from his post as the owner and operator of the music venue Jannus Live. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission has not indicated they plan to charge him at this point. And in a new letter, released Monday, Knight’s attorney is trying to pin the blame on the ferry. The letter suggests the operator of the ferry should have blasted a whistle or horn before impact but didn’t. It also accuses the ferry of having more passengers on board than they’re allowed to and questions whether crew members on the ferry also did drug and alcohol testing. The letter also alleges the ferry didn’t have its lights the way it should have. Under Florida law, possible charges in this deadly wreck could include vessel homicide or leaving the scene of a boat crash. Knight said he stayed until he noticed his boat was taking on water. You are allowed to leave the scene if your boat is in danger. Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. Jeff Knight has also stood down from his role with a local music venue ‘out of respect for the victims’ I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The driver of a private boat that hit a passenger ferry in Florida has denied fleeing the scene after the collision left one dead and 10 injured. An attorney for Jeff Knight issued a lengthy statement following the tragic incident in Clearwater on Sunday night. There were 45 people on board the 40ft ferry when Knight’s 37ftboat with six passengers plowed into the stern at around 8.40 p.m. local time. Jose Castro, 41, of Palm Harbor, Florida, was killed, and at least six other passengers were taken to hospital. Separately, Knight has stepped down from his role with outdoor music locale Jannus Live “out of respect for the victims”, according to a statement from the venue. After Sunday’s crash, Clearwater Police Department said in a statement on X that “the boat that struck the ferry fled the scene”. Knight’s attorney disputes this, and no charges have been brought over the fatal collision. “Immediately after the accident, Mr Knight directed a passenger on his vessel to call 911, and that passenger remained on the line with the 911 operator for nearly twelve minutes,” attorney J. Kevin Hayslett wrote. “Mr Knight tied his vessel to the ferry in order to stabilize it and render aid. He used his boat to maneuver the ferry closer to shore so that first responders would have easier access to passengers. “Only after Clearwater Police Officers were in the water and ambulances had arrived did Mr Knight leave in order to prevent his boat from sinking with an infant on board. “Several witnesses aboard Mr. Knight’s vessel indicated that the frantic mother... pleaded for immediate transport following the crash because she was concerned that her 8-week-old child may have suffered injuries. “Given the circumstances, including vessel draft, water depth, and the compromised condition of Mr Knight’s boat, he prudently determined that returning to dock as quickly as possible was the best course of action.” In the video footage of the crash, released by the Clearwater Police Department, Knight’s boat is seen hitting the stern of the passenger ferry. In a press conference Monday, Clearwater Police Department chief Eric Gandy said the boat “overrode nearly three-quarters of the ferry” and was tracked down 3.5 miles away from the site of the crash underneath the Clearwater Memorial Causeway. An investigation into the crash by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is ongoing. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies govt and politics"},{"score":0.670239,"label":"/society/crime/personal offense"},{"score":0.641802,"label":"/law — The same captain and the same boat that crashed into the Clearwater Ferry Sunday night killing one man and injuring multiple people was cited by authorities in another Pinellas County boat crash involving multiple injuries years earlier The ABC Action News I-team obtained pictures and reports from that 2019 crash which resembled the recent one in some ways It was a chaotic scene Sunday night after a power boat operated by Jeffry Knight slammed into the Clearwater Ferry carrying 44 people Shaken passengers recall the terrifying moment “I looked back behind us and this big yacht just came through the boat,” one passenger recalled A Clearwater city camera captured the incident Knight’s boat can be seen coming up from behind and colliding with the ferry “We can’t even understand how fast they were going How was that even logically possible,” said ferry passenger Brenda Alvarez Rescue workers scrambled to help the crash victims We had two people flown by helicopter to local hospitals,” said Clearwater Police Public Information Officer Rob Shaw Jose Castro Knight has not been charged in connection with that accident But the I-Team has confirmed that Knight was cited for another crash involving that same boat which crashed into a different pontoon boat pontoon near the Skyway with one injured subject being brought into Maximo,” the Florida Wildlife Commission dispatcher said in a radio transmission just after 2 p.m and Jeffry Knight was behind the wheel of his 37-foot-long powerboat The boat was powered by three 350-horsepower engines Knight’s boat struck a 21-foot-long pontoon boat with a single 90-horsepower outboard engine “There are going to be two more subjects who are injured Dispatch believes they’ll be transported to Bayfront,” the dispatcher alerted officers in another radio transmission According to the FWC incident report obtained by the I-Team Knight’s boat was traveling at an estimated speed of 45 miles an hour when it hit the pontoon boat which witnesses say was going 8 miles an hour The report says the pontoon boat operator was a medical doctor who performed first aid on the injured passengers A passenger from Knight’s boat reportedly boarded that vessel and drove it to Maximo Park where ambulances were waiting to take the three victims to Bayfront Hospital in St Has head injury and lacerations,” a FWC officer on the scene reported back to the dispatcher “Patient number two is another female trauma alert with abdominal injuries.” Records show Knight purchased his boat in 2018 for more than $381,000 It had far less damage than the pontoon boat it struck FWC charged him 28 days after the crash with careless operation of a vessel and collision with a vessel We asked retired Tampa Police Department Marine Officer Randy Lopez to review the report He owns and operates Blue Line Boating, a charter boating and boater safety training business During Lopez’s 33-year law enforcement career The FWC report from the 2019 crash concluded “Knight was at fault for this accident” He should have slowed and gone behind him,” Lopez said looking at the diagram provided by investigators as part of the report Lopez said the report indicated Knight violated navigation rules and didn’t have a lookout “Look at the disparity in the size and the makeup of the vessels,” Lopez said which showed significant damage to the pontoon boat including crushed railing on the side of the impact you go ‘I'm surprised nobody got killed’ because when that boat came up had somebody been sitting right there or standing right there they’d have taken that boat full force,” Lopez said The 2019 charges against Knight were dismissed by a judge months later The injured passengers sued Knight and a limited liability company formed by Knight which held the title to the boat The lawsuit alleges Knight violated navigational rules “by failing to keep a proper lookout and operating the vessel in a careless manner including by taking his eyes off of his direction of travel by looking down at his GPS immediately prior to impacting the vessel.” The civil case was settled for an undisclosed amount Lopez says the events in the 2019 crash and Sunday’s crash show the importance of being aware of one's surroundings and operating boats safely at all times “The boats that we have out here today they’re fast They'll run over things and they will cause damage,” Lopez said We reached out to Knight’s attorney Kevin Hayslett who said he didn’t wish to comment on the 2019 charges except to emphasize that the charges against Knight were dismissed If you have a story you think the I-Team should investigate, email us at adam@abcactionnews.com — A recreational boat crashed into a ferry transporting 45 people on the final day of a sand-sculpting festival in Florida killing one person and injuring at least 10 others The crash late Sunday in calm waters off Clearwater on the western Florida coast set off an emergency response due to the high number of possible casualties Video of the accident released by law enforcement Monday at a news conference showed the recreational vehicle plowing into the ferry from behind at dusk near a causeway "We were just enjoying the ride and all of a sudden we heard the first mate yelling who was on the ferry with Brenda Alvarez and their two young children "And we looked back behind us and this big yacht just came through the boat." The operator of the recreational boat was cooperating with authorities and a breathalyzer test showed no alcohol impairment The recreational boat stayed in the accident area for a short time; officers encountered it about 3.5 miles away Officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission were working with the State Attorney's Office to determine if any charges would be filed Fish and wildlife officers "would always recommend that if someone is involved in an accident Matthew Dallarosa of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Emergency dispatchers answering 911 calls from the accident scene heard "horrific screaming" in the background All of those injured were adults aboard the ferry they found themselves in the water trying to rescue people," Tedesco said they're trying to figure out who was the most injured." The ferry came to rest on a sandbar just south of the Memorial Causeway bridge The crash took place in an area without speed restrictions "You never expect any of this to happen," Brenda Alvarez said "We can't understand how fast they were going like how that is even logically possible that they hit and were able to get off like that." Coast Guard said in a social media post that on-scene reports indicated that all 45 people on the ferry and all six people on the boat were accounted for 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 Several Good Samaritans also helped the ferry passengers get to safety Sunday was the last day of the Sugar Sand Festival a 17-day sand-sculpting festival in Clearwater Beach The Coast Guard said the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission will lead the investigation into the cause of the crash Become an NPR sponsor Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) identified the victim who died in the ferry boat crash near the Memorial Causeway on Sunday evening was identified as the victim who died in the ferry boat crash The City of Clearwater said one person has died and 10 people were injured following a boat crash near the Memorial Causeway bridge Two of the trauma alerts were flown to Baycare Health with various minor injuries 44 people were on board the ferry at the time of the crash ABC Action News spoke with Clearwater Mayor Bruce Rector who said the Clearwater Ferry was in a collision with a privately owned boat carrying six people FWC said that after the collision with the ferry the boat captain then left the scene and traveled to Belleair Boat Ramp The Ferry boat captain was identified as Dennis Kimerer and the captain of the private boat was identified as Jeffry Knight Officials have not filed any charges in this case Clearwater Ferry's Mayday call to Coast Guard WATCH: Boat collides with ferry in Clearwater WATCH: Clearwater Police gives update on Monday afternoon after deadly ferry crash "We are actually going to go to the hospital right now to get checked because I'm a little worried I haven't felt the baby move We just wanted to get to our cars and get home We can't understand how fast they were going like how that was even logically possible that they hit and were able to get off like that We have a 3-year-old and 1-year-old with us the doctor checked her out and said she and the baby will be okay after an ultrasound Officials said Clearwater Police and Clearwater Fire and Rescue were on scene following a call at 8:43 p.m It was the end of the 17-day Sugar Sand Festival tonight so a lot of people were taking the ferry back and forth for the festival Officials said that they believe everyone has been accounted for and no one was reported missing The FWC is continuing to canvas the area for surveillance footage and witnesses The United States Coast Guard is also investigating PSTA and Clearwater Ferry released a joint statement following the incident: "We are heartbroken for the person who lost their life We deeply appreciate the dedication of the first responders and others who rushed to help Sunday night Safety is the top priority for PSTA and the Clearwater Ferry." Clearwater officials announced three hours after the collision that the driver who they said fled the scene had been found by a partnering law enforcement agency. Clearwater spokesperson Rob Shaw didn’t disclose the driver’s identity, if impairment was suspected or what type of boat hit the ferry. But a large police scene later developed around a center console boat just a few miles from the scene. By midnight, Clearwater officials confirmed that one person died of injuries from the ferry crash. Six patients were declared “trauma alerts,” with two of those flown by helicopter, according to the Clearwater Police Department. Morton Plant Hospital, which is less than a mile from the crash, received four patients with minor injuries, said BayCare spokesperson Lisa Razler, adding that at least one other patient was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa. Two female patients were transported to Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital in St. Petersburg. The hospital is the only Level II trauma center in Pinellas County, a designation that requires it to have trauma surgeons on hand and more on call for mass casualty events. Sunday had otherwise been a nautical dream. Calm waters. Pleasant temperatures. Boaters galore. But by 9 p.m., it had become bedlam just south of the Memorial Causeway bridge. At the time of the collision, which was first reported at 8:43 p.m., the Clearwater Ferry had been carrying 45 people, including two crew members. The other boat left the scene, but an unnamed law enforcement agency managed to identify it, according to Clearwater officials. Because of the number of injuries, Clearwater’s fire department declared the crash a “mass casualty event.” That meant all local hospitals were alerted to expect patients. Two hours later, first responders were splashing through shallow water below the Memorial Causeway bridge. Subscribe to our free News Alerts newsletter Flashlight beams bounced along the surface as the emergency responders waded out toward the crash scene bystanders stopped and stared from the railing Red and blue lights flickered further down the road toward Clearwater Beach It was a sudden and violent setback for the ferry the Clearwater Ferry was initially a privately owned water taxi to shuttle between downtown Clearwater and Clearwater Beach It set out to provide relief for congestion-weary motorists Instead of traveling on the Memorial Causeway passengers of the ferry would sail below it It was such a hit that by 2023, the state granted the company running it $1 million to buy two other boats to ramp up service. As of Sunday, the ferry’s website said that the service was composed of three vessels. Maddies’s Crossing, once called the Sunshine Express, can hold 42 passengers. Hailey’s Crossing can hold 21. Monica’s Crossing can hold up to 63. The ferry routes had served Clearwater and Dunedin with stops at downtown Clearwater, Clearwater Beach Marina and Dunedin Marina, which is near breweries, shops and restaurants. But last year’s hurricanes interrupted service to Dunedin because the docks had been severely damaged. The ferry crash Sunday happened hours after two people were injured when a boat crashed into the Sand Key Park jetty, a couple of miles to the west. That crash happened about 5 a.m. Sunday in Clearwater Pass as two boats were returning from an offshore fishing trip, according to a Florida Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesperson. One of the boats with five occupants on board struck the jetty at Sand Key Park. The boat’s operator was thrown overboard and a second person on the boat was also injured. The other boat brought the two injured people to the Seminole Park boat ramp. They were taken to Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital in St. Petersburg to be treated for injuries that officials believe were not life-threatening, according to the Clearwater Police Department, which responded along with city fire rescue crews. The wildlife commission is investigating the crash and no other information was available for release, the spokesperson said. As for the ferry crash, it’s unclear where the ferry was traveling to or from at the time it was hit. Hours later, and less than four miles from the site, a heavy police presence surrounded a boat as officers hoisted it from the water at the Belleair Causeway ramp early Monday. Officers on scene did not say whether their investigation was related to the crash. About 12:30 a.m., two investigators walked around the boat’s deck. It was tied up at a dock that stretches into the water at the boat ramp, next to a bait and tackle store under the causeway. Its hull was blue and white, with the gleam of an anchor sticking forward from the bow, which had scrapes on its right side. One officer whose uniform was labeled “Sheriff Forensics” snapped photos from outside and on the boat. Law enforcement officers spoke to a man sitting on a seat at the front of the boat, until he walked off the dock. One of the officers ordered reporters to stand back so they wouldn’t “intimidate the driver of the boat” but did not say more. They led the man to a truck without police markings. The boat’s three outboard motors were raised as it sat tied up at the ramp. At least one officer at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which is conducting the crash investigation, was also at the scene. Nearby, a family watched the commotion, standing by the water’s edge. As wildlife officers hitched the boat to a trailer, the smell of gasoline filled the air. A thin, white scrape at the bow became more visible out of the water. An investigator took pictures of the bottom of the boat near the bow after it was pulled onto land. The side of the boat bore a logo: “Statement.” Times staff writer Tony Marrero contributed to this report. Zachary T. Sampson is an investigative reporter. He can be reached at zsampson@tampabay.com. Bethany Barnes is the deputy investigations editor. She can be reached at bbarnes@tampabay.com. Christopher O’Donnell is the health and medicine reporter. He can be reached at codonnell@tampabay.com. Chris Tisch is the senior news editor overseeing breaking news, criminal justice, weather and environment. Reach him at tisch@tampabay.com. One person has died and several were injured Sunday when a boat crashed into a ferry off the Memorial Causeway Bridge and then fled the scene A recreational boat crashed into a ferry transporting 45 people on the final day of a sand-sculpting festival in Florida Video provided by the City of Clearwater appears to show two vessels in close proximity around the time of a deadly collision Sunday evening This image provided by Mike Boylan shows authorities at the scene of a boat crash that involved a public ferry carrying 45 passengers near Clearwater Beach Police Chief Eric Gandy shows the media a boat crash video during a news conference Monday after multiple people were injured in the deadly accident Sunday night of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission after a deadly boating accident Sunday night division chief Anthony Tedesco speaks during a news conference Monday after a deadly boat crash into a ferry injuring multiple people Sunday night Police Chief Eric Gandy shows the media a boat crash video that occurred on Sunday night during a news conference Monday State and local officials take part during a news conference on Sunday night’s deadly boating accident that injured multiple people Investigators search the wreckage of a Clearwater Ferry after a boat crashed into the ferry causing multiple injuries near the Clearwater Memorial Causeway Bridge Rescue workers gather at the Seminole Boat ramp north of where a boat crashed into the ferry causing multiple injuries near the Clearwater Memorial Causeway Bridge First responders gather on a beach near where a boat crashed into the ferry causing multiple injuries near the Clearwater Memorial Causeway Bridge (AP) — A recreational boat crashed into a ferry transporting 45 people on the final day of a sand-sculpting festival in Florida “We were just enjoying the ride and all of a sudden we heard the first mate yelling “And we looked back behind us and this big yacht just came through the boat.” The recreational boat stayed in the accident area for a short time; officers encountered it about 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers) away Officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission were working with the State Attorney’s Office to determine if any charges would be filed Fish and wildlife officers “would always recommend that if someone is involved in an accident Emergency dispatchers answering 911 calls from the accident scene heard “horrific screaming” in the background they found themselves in the water trying to rescue people,” Tedesco said they’re trying to figure out who was the most injured.” “You never expect any of this to happen,” Brenda Alvarez said “We can’t understand how fast they were going like how that is even logically possible that they hit and were able to get off like that.” Multiple trauma alerts have been called with helicopters transporting two of the more seriously injured,” the post said The Coast Guard said the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission will lead the investigation into the cause of the crash On Saturday at the legendary Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota TX fighter returned to the win column with a third-round stoppage victory over fellow fan-favorite bantamweight Jack “Shady” Grady BOX SCORE FL – No runs were scored until the eighth inning as the Clearwater Threshers (15-12) scored in the ninth and eleventh innings of a 2-1 walkoff win over the Bradenton Marauders (11-16) on Sunday afternoon at BayCare Ballpark beginning with a Tuesday evening showdown at Clover Park A two-out solo home run in the top of the eighth inning gave Bradenton the first run of the ballgame The Threshers began a rally with two outs in the ninth beginning with a double to right by Joel Dragoo He moved to third on an infield single by Raider Tello and Guillermo Rosario drew another walk to tie the game at one before the game went to extra innings After Saul Teran held the Marauders scoreless in the top of the eleventh inning Dragoo started off the home half with a hard ground ball to third base allowing Dragoo to reach first and Griffin Burkholder Shojinaga connected on the first pitch he saw driving a base hit up the middle to seal a 2-1 walkoff win Ryan Degges allowed one hit and three walks with seven strikeouts in 3.2 shutout innings of a no-decision allowed one hit and struck out three batters in 1.2 scoreless innings Marty Gair surrendered one run on one hit with three strikeouts in 2.0 innings Saul Teran (2-0) earned the victory in 3.0 shutout innings proud Single-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies and back-to-back Florida State League West Division First-Half Champions have announced their 2025 schedule with game times The quest for a third-straight playoff spot begins on the night of Tuesday and concludes with a noon matinee on Sunday Click here for the 2025 Threshers PDF schedule download First pitch time for Tuesday through Saturday night games at BayCare Ballpark is 6:30 p.m Buy Threshers Tickets The Threshers are home for 11 Tuesday and 11 Saturday night games Clearwater faces each FSL team at home except Palm Beach and Jupiter Clearwater travels to every stadium in the league this season with road series against every FSL team aside from the Jupiter Hammerheads Promotion and ticket-on-sale dates for the Threshers' 69 home games will be released at a later date This game schedule is part of a revised Florida State League summer slate to accommodate changes to the MLB game schedule Shop Threshers gear anytime at the Diamond Outfitters Online Team Store...Spring Training tickets for the Philadelphia Phillies can be purchased at https://www.mlb.com/phillies/spring-training ...or by calling the BayCare Box Office at 727-467-4457…The hours are 10 AM-5 PM Monday through Friday and 10 AM-3 PM on Saturdays aims to improve Clearwater’s modelling and portfolio management capabilities particularly in complex asset classes such as derivatives Beacon’s technology is designed to provide real-time risk analytics and infrastructure for customised application development The platform is used by several major institutions including asset managers and energy trading firms Beacon’s modular tools will be integrated into Clearwater’s existing platform to support enhanced portfolio construction The integration of Beacon complements Clearwater’s earlier acquisitions including Enfusion and Blackstone’s Bistro platform these technologies are intended to deliver a unified system that spans trading and regulatory reporting across both public and private markets.  Clearwater officials said the addition of Beacon’s cross-asset risk capabilities would help streamline investment processes across front They indicated that this would provide institutional clients with a consolidated platform offering real-time data access and enhanced transparency potentially reducing reliance on legacy systems and manual processes.  A representative from Clearwater noted that the acquisition enables the company to extend its services throughout the investment lifecycle including front-office and operational functions Officials at the firm believe this approach could simplify complex workflows and provide greater responsiveness to market developments.  Representatives from Beacon added that the integration with Clearwater would allow their existing risk and performance tools to be deployed at a wider scale offering clients more immediate and actionable insights Two months later, a Palm Harbor man died and 10 more were injured after Jannus Live owner Jeff Knight’s boat crashed into the back of the ferry Service has been temporarily suspended but is scheduled to return on Thursday a spokesperson for the Pinellas transit agency Law enforcement investigate an accident involving a Clearwater Ferry at the Memorial Causeway on Sunday [ JEFFEREE WOO | Times ]Pinellas County Commissioner Brian Scott said he wants the service to stick around as a desperately-needed solution to traffic jams on Clearwater’s Memorial Causeway The ferry operates two more boats in addition to the one involved in the crash and just to have that option out there is really important,” he said the private operator carries its own insurance to pay out claims a Clearwater resident who owns and staffs the ferry citing the ongoing investigation into the crash Jose Castro’s death on the ferry is accompanied by an even harsher reality Forward Pinellas prioritizes funds for road and transit projects while the Pinellas transit authority oversees bus and Clearwater Ferry operations within the county Every day two people on average die in crashes on Pinellas County roads horrific crashes that shut down the interstate “And yet we just sort of accept that and move on We’ve become really numb or just not moved by the number of crashes and serious injuries and fatalities that we have on our roadways.” About 14 people die in car crashes for every 100,000 registered vehicles according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration For every 100,000 registered boats, around five die in boat crashes according to the United States Coast Guard Still, when high-profile incidents happen on comparatively safe modes of travel, data suggests some members of the public stay away. After a plane crash killed 67 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in January, around 120,000 fewer people flew through the airport the following month people will return to the Clearwater Ferry a citizen appointee to the Pinellas transit board said Sunday’s crash is a sign no mode of travel is completely safe But the more options available to Pinellas residents and tourists public transportation is safer than private vehicle travel,” he said The Clearwater Ferry has safety mechanisms in place that protect riders: a professional driver and Coast Guard oversight But all those features can’t fully guard the service from “random acts of ignorance” like what happened Sunday night The Clearwater Ferry is operated by a private company it’s been overseen by the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority The expanded service drew local interest prior to Sunday's crash the agency board approved a three-year contract with the ferry service for $2.3 million The city of Clearwater helps fund the service and Dunedin is set to provide funds once its dock is repaired after last year’s hurricanes The state also pays for the service. A $655,000 state grant will help fund operations for the next three years. The state gave an additional $1 million to purchase new boats The ferry now runs from downtown Clearwater to the Clearwater Beach Marina on Thursday through Sunday, every half hour for most of the day. Before the takeover, the ferry only operated on a reservation-based model thanks to its $4 fare and proximity to breweries Tyler DeHaven has worked at and managed The Bait House Tackle and Tavern — located about 25 yards from the ferry’s Clearwater Beach stop He said the service has had a major impact clearing traffic congestion “The parking down here is a disaster,” he said “Any way I can convince someone to not drive is good for me and for my business.” said the service has a positive reputation for being fun and low-cost he’d use it often to commute to and from work “I’ve seen it being used a lot,” Witting said Witting sees the ferry as helpful to businesses in downtown Clearwater and to tourists navigating to beach hotels there have also been deals for hospitality sector employees using the service The crash could increase skepticism for the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority’s effort to take over another boat transit service: the Cross Bay Ferry Hillsborough County transit officials will decide whether to transfer to Pinellas a nearly $5 million grant to purchase a vessel that could cross Tampa Bay and decrease costs for the service Their vote on the grant has been delayed at the urging of Hillsborough Commissioner Josh Wostal “I’m very sad about the situation,” Wostal said in an interview Thursday “I hope we don’t continue down this road of risk.” Scott, the Pinellas commissioner, said he’s more concerned about the potential financial waste of owning a boat compared to safety concerns presented by the Clearwater Ferry crash. He described the cross-bay service as “transportainment,” while the Clearwater Ferry can help hospitality workers on the beaches get to their jobs. That 45 people were on board the Clearwater Ferry during the crash is tragic as well as promising, Blanton said. “I think demand will (continue to) be there because it is so difficult to get over to the beach,” he said. “We’re very confident that it will return to the success it’s enjoyed.” Shauna Muckle is reporter covering tourism, transportation and technology. She can be reached at smuckle@tampabay.com. Teghan Simonton is a data reporter on the business and health team. Reach her at tsimonton@tampabay.com. has sent a second letter to investigators that includes sworn statements from witnesses aboard Knight’s boat Hayslett sent written statements from three passengers on Knight’s 37-foot center console Statement powerboat Hayslett also again raised the question about whether the ferry which was carrying 45 people including two crew members One passenger on the ferry was killed and 10 others were injured in the crash on the Intracoastal Waterway near the Clearwater Memorial Causeway Time-stamped video recorded by a city web camera at Coachman Park shows the boat crashing into the back of the ferry at 8:40 p.m It then pulled away from the ferry and remained in the area as the ferry appeared to drift About 10 minutes later, it began to slowly motor away from the scene, the video shows. Hayslett in his second letter highlighted excerpts from the witnesses on board Knight’s boat stating that Knight made statements immediately after the crash about not seeing lights on the ferry. Kathryn Talbert wrote that she is a former employee and friend of Knight’s and met him at his home with three other friends and a child. They had dinner at Island Way Grill in Clearwater and left as food was still arriving at the table because the sun was setting and Knight “was worried about it getting dark,” Talbert wrote. Talbert, who was sitting near the back of the boat, wrote that they had just reached “what felt like a normal cruising speed” when they hit what she thought might be a sandbar. It was dark, she wrote, and she hadn’t seen any other boats around. Talbert went to the front of the boat and realized they’d hit the back of a pontoon boat. Talbert wrote that she asked Knight what to do and he told her to call 911. Another woman on the boat made the call. Talbert wrote that she offered to help anyone on the ferry get on board Knight’s boat to be taken to shore for medical attention. “They said two people were pretty hurt but no one got aboard when we offered,” Talbert wrote. “Next thing I know we saw the cops and EMT arriving on shore. After that, Jeff said we could hang up with 911 since help had arrived.” Talbert wrote that Knight “told us that the boat was taking on water and we needed to get to shore.” After they left, a Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office boat stopped them, tied Knight’s boat to theirs and towed them to the Belleair boat ramp. Subscribe to our free Stephinitely newsletter “There were no drugs used by anyone before Danielle Ely wrote in her statement that she’d met Knight a few months earlier through a mutual acquaintance About five minutes after they’d left the no-wake zone there was a collision and Ely “thought Jeff had hit a pole or a bridge.” “I stood up and turned around hearing people screaming and saw it was another boat,” Ely wrote Ely heard Knight direct another woman to call 911 Ely wrote that another passenger “asked Jeff to dock somewhere but he said we can’t The third witness who provided a statement wrote that the crash “felt like the boat was hitting rocks on land.” They realized they’d hit another boat where the f--k where their lights?’” Ringel wrote She wrote that Knight said to “call the cops,” and Ringel called 911 and Knight untied his boat from the ferry and began to motor away “Jeff told me to hang up because they are getting help and that they don’t need us anymore but (I) didn’t listen until told repeatedly,” Ringel wrote Jeff told us we were taking on water and needed to get back home.” Ringel wrote that she began to comfort another passenger and her baby who were “hysterical.” The child’s mother and Ringel told Knight they wanted to get off the boat “I began to yell at Jeff to stop the boat anywhere Pinellas deputies stopped them a short time later The Clearwater Ferry sits damaged after a powerboat crashed into the back of it on Sunday [ JEFFEREE WOO | Times ]Officers questioned all three women at the boat ramp Ringel wrote that the officer who interviewed her “seemed agitated because I couldn’t remember much.” She was Ely wrote that she told an officer that she didn’t see anything before the crash “because my back was turned.” Talbert did not include in her written statement details about what she told officers that night In Thursday’s letter to the wildlife commission Hayslett wrote that Knight tied his boat to the ferry and began nudging it toward the shore “to reduce reliance on water-only rescue.” The letter said Knight remained on the scene for about 15 minutes yet “has been vilified for leaving the scene.” The letter states that Knight gave a voluntary breath sample that registered no alcohol in his system and was evaluated by a “Drug Recognition Expert” who administered “horizontal and vertical gaze nystagmus testing.” The letter notes that vessels are required to have white stern lights “From the sworn statements already in your possession Hayslett wrote that his “lighting and reconstruction experts will seek to evaluate the exact position A spokesperson for the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority declined to comment Wednesday on the lighting concerns laid out in Hayslett’s first letter to the commission Jose Luis Castro a 41-year-old father of two young girls who worked for the United States Postal Service His family is calling for Knight to be criminally charged Tony Marrero is the criminal justice and breaking news reporter. Reach him at tmarrero@tampabay.com. The man driving a recreational boat that crashed into a ferry in the water near Clearwater denied that he fled the scene in a letter to investigators from his attorney The Clearwater Police Department previously said that the boat "fled the scene." Knight left the scene is wholly unsupported," Hayslett wrote in the letter dated April 29 USA TODAY has reached out to Hayslett and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission What happened in the Clearwater ferry boat crash?The collision happened near the Memorial Causeway bridge at about 8:40 p.m. on April 27, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. There were about 45 people on the ferry, many of whom were returning from a day of revelry at the  Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival on Clearwater Beach Authorities said a blue and white recreational boat carrying six people hit the ferry with 45 people on board and then drove away from the scene and officials said the driver was cooperative and took a breathalyzer test in which no alcohol was found present Ten adults on the ferry had injuries ranging from broken bones to head injuries The Clearwater Fire Department declared the scene a mass casualty incident because of the number of injuries six of which were declared trauma alerts with two taken to a hospital by helicopter attorney saysHayslett said Knight complied with Florida law requiring him to try to help Knight told one of his passengers to call 911 and tied his boat to the ferry to "stabilize it and render aid" and move it closer to shore so first responders would have easier access Knight also told the captain of the ferry he could transport passengers to a hospital on his boat Knight then realized his boat was taking on water and worried it would sink and decided he needed to get it back to his dock so he could take it out of the water "Only after Clearwater Police Officers were in the water and ambulances had arrived did Mr Knight leave in order to prevent his boat from sinking with an infant on board," Hayslett wrote The boat was stopped by law enforcement on the way back to the dock and towed to a boat ramp where the 8-week-old baby was examined by medical personnel The attorney said in his letter that there is "credible concern" the ferry was not properly displaying its navigational lights Jeff Knight steps down from Jannus Live, Florida music venueKnight is listed in state business records as president of Jannus Live, an outdoor music venue in St. Petersburg, Florida. He also became a minority owner over a decade ago, according to a 2009 report from the Tampa Bay Times The venue said in a statement on social media on April 30 that Knight was stepping down following the boat crash "and will no longer have any affiliation with the venue." "This decision was made out of respect for the victims of the recent Clearwater Ferry tragedy and to ensure that ongoing developments do not detract from the work of the talented artists and community partners who have long contributed to the success of Jannus Live," the statement said By ABC7 StaffPublished: Apr. 30, 2025 at 3:24 PM EDTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInSARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - Jeff Knight, who was operating the boat that crashed into the Clearwater Ferry April 27, has stepped down from the day-to-day operation of Jannus Live A post of the Jannus Live Facebook page said Jeff Knight is stepping down from his position at Jannus Live and will no longer have any affiliation with the venue.” According to Florida incorporation records Knight is listed as the owner and president of Jannis Landing “This decision was made out of respect for the victims of the recent Clearwater Ferry tragedy and to ensure that ongoing developments do not detract from the work of the talented artists and community partners who have long contributed to the success of Jannus Live “Jannus Live will continue normal operations under its existing management team with a renewed focus on delivering world-class live entertainment to the St Clearwater Police Chief Eric Gandy said Knight’s vessel “overrode nearly three quarters of the ferry,” just before 9 p.m The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission many coming from the Sugar Sand Festival which had celebrated its closing night Sunday and several others on the ferry were seriously injured Knight’s boat stayed in the accident area for a short time; officers encountered it about 3.5 miles away Officers with the FWC were working with the State Attorney’s Office to determine if any charges would be filed which normally operates on weekends out of season will be suspended May 1 through May 4 due to the incident No charges have yet been filed against Knight an official from the FWC said the impact could be considered a “hit-and-run.” contends Knight did nothing illegal the night of the crash Knight acted in full compliance with Florida law rendered meaningful assistance to the ferry and its passengers and departed the scene only after rescue efforts were underway,” he said in a letter to investigators “These actions are supported by neutral eyewitnesses Allegations to the contrary are not grounded in fact or law and appear to be driven by misinformation.” It is time for my weekly spring Chinook Salmon update (April 29 fish counts at Bonneville Dam picked up considerably (see figure below) We need these counts to continue to climb to achieve or exceed our preseason forecasts The tangle net test fishery near the mouth of Columbia River has shown a steady increase in catch rates for the past three weeks which indicates counts at Bonneville Dam should continue to climb When you compare this year’s counts (red line) to the 10-year average (dotted black line) there have been some poor salmon returns in the last 10 years We want better than the 10-year average.  One of my favorite ways to evaluate the Chinook Salmon return at Bonneville Dam is to look at the counts accumulated daily what cumulative counts show is the total number of fish that have been counted up to a given date and that is because after May 31 the fish destined for Idaho’s spring Chinook Salmon fisheries will have almost all passed over Bonneville Dam almost all the fish passing over Bonneville Dam will be summer run fish you can see counts this year (red line) are better than eight of the previous 10 years It wouldn’t surprise me if this year’s spring return will end up somewhere between what occurred last year last year (dashed black line) and 2016 (dotted green line) let’s look at what the PIT tag detections at Bonneville Dam tell us about how many of these fish are destined for Idaho and what we are projecting for harvest shares for each of our spring Chinook Salmon fisheries I have updated the table below I shared with you in my last update so it now captures the most recent data (through 4/28/25) This table shows that the Clearwater River return’s harvest share is projected to be 4,354 adult fish (darker peach row) which is down from what I reported in my last update (6,209 fish) The Rapid River return (darker blue row) is projected to have a harvest share of 1,506 which is down slightly from my last update (1,774 fish) the Hells Canyon fishery (green row) is projected to have a harvest share of 831 fish which is also down slightly from my last update (912 fish) It is important to realize that these projected harvest shares assume that the return has an average run timing (about 25% complete) if the actual return is later than average I do what to bring to your attention that if the harvest shares listed above are fairly accurate, we may want to adjust the seasons for the Clearwater River return fishery. If you read my first update (Chinook update 4/23/2025) you may recall that I presented “harvest matrixes” for each of the fisheries that describes the seasons and limits anglers want us to apply based on the harvest share The harvest matrix for the Clearwater River return fishery indicates that if the harvest share is greater than 2,000 adult fish we are projecting the Clearwater River Return fishery will have a harvest share of 4,354 fish The projected harvest share did drop considerably from the previous week so we will want it to stabilize before we recommend any changes to the season Last weekend the spring Chinook Salmon fishery opened We observed only a few anglers fishing in the lower Clearwater and none of the people we interviewed reported catching a fish This is not surprising seeing only 51 adult Chinook Salmon passed over Lower Granite Dam over the weekend daily counts at Lower Granite Dam could start to exceed 100 fish/day but they are high enough that the first fish of the year may be caught this week Buy Licenses Hunt Planner Hunter Ed Fishing Planner IFWF Hunt Report Report Wildlife Crime Volunteer! Report Roadkill due to renovations that will last nine months Pay your utility bill in person at Clearwater Gas Get a permit or rebuilding guidance at the Old Countryside Library Meet with a code inspector at the Old Countryside Library Join us for a celebration of Cinco De Mayo in collaboration with UNIMEX By ABC7 StaffPublished: Apr. 29, 2025 at 6:55 PM EDTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInCLEARWATER, Fla. (WWSB) - Jeff Knight, the man who was operating the boat that crashed into the Clearwater Ferry Sunday night has a checkered history with law enforcement he was issued a vessel citation in 2017 for careless operation of a vessel for allowing his 14-year-old stepson to operate a boat Knight also was charged in a 2019 boating accident he was sued after a man died getting off his boat He was charged with DUI in 2007 but that was reduced to reckless driving where he was convicted but not sentenced Knight also faced a DUI charge in 2012 and was found guilty Jannus Live posted a statement on its Facebook page issued a statement urging the community to use “compassion and patience as the facts surrounding this heartbreaking incident continue to emerge.” “We ask that judgment be reserved while the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the United States Coast Guard conduct their thorough investigation into what occurred that night,” the statement said 2025 at 4:33 PM EDTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInCLEARWATER the boat operator involved in the fatal crash involving the Clearwater Ferry April 27 insists his client did nothing illegal the night of the crash Kevin Hayslett defended his client’s actions and departed the scene only after rescue efforts were underway,” he wrote Allegations to the contrary are not grounded in fact or law and appear to be driven by misinformation.” a boat piloted by Knight rammed into the rear of the ponton ferry boat carrying 44 passengers One passenger was killed and several other were seriously injured Clearwater Police Chief Eric Gandy said Knight’s vessel “overrode nearly three quarters of the ferry.” Knight’s boat stayed in the accident area for a short time Hayslett contends Knight stayed at the crash scene as long as necessary rendering aid and assisting with getting the ferry closer to shore Knight directed a passenger on his vessel to call 911 and that passenger remained on the line with the 911 operator for nearly twelve minutes,” the letter states the caller relayed updates and emergency directions Knight to instruct all the ferry passengers to immediately put on a life jacket “He told the captain of the ferry boat that he was able to transport injured individuals by water to Morton Plant Hospital believing this would provide faster care than waiting for land-based emergency services Hayslett said Knight’s boat was taking on water and was in danger of sinking “Only after Clearwater Police Officers were in the water and ambulances had arrived did Mr Knight leave in order to prevent his boat from sinking with an infant on board.” Hayslett also said the Clearwater Ferry may not have been properly lit on the night of the crash “There is credible concern that the Clearwater ferry was not displaying the required navigational lights at the time of the accident particularly a stern light visible for a distance of two miles,” he wrote He also suggests the ferry captain and crew may not have been paying proper attention to boat traffic the captain and many passengers were distracted by dolphins in the area diminishing navigational awareness,’ the letter says “It appears that just prior to the accident someone on the ferry was shining a spotlight in the channel which would confirm reports that they were looking at dolphins.” Hayslett also says video footage of the crash artificially exaggerated visibility at the time of the crash “Lighting experts … believe that the widely circulated footage was artificially brightened at the time of recording by nighttime enhancement filters which may give a misleading impression of visibility We respectfully request access to unedited raw footage in order to accurately assess lighting conditions at the time of the incident.” Coast Guard are continuing to investigate the crash Knight Lawyer Letter by Jim DeLa on Scribd Knight Lawyer Letter by Jim DeLa on Scribd PALM HARBOR — Family meant everything to Jose Castro But now those young girls are without a father and Sandy is planning a funeral for her brother "My family is coming [from] all over to be the last time with my brother The post office worker from Palm Harbor was returning from a day off at the beach He was one of 44 people on the Clearwater Ferry when investigators say a boat captained by Jeff Knight slammed into them Florida Fish and Wildlife towed the mangled ferry away as the investigation into the crash continues FWC says Knight's boat left the scene after the crash and went to the Belleair Boat Ramp Castro's family reached out to ABC Action News in part because they are angry that no charges have been filed He's going to be here killing one person today that was my brother Can be another family member suffering while we are suffering today Records show Knight was charged in a 2019 boating accident where he crashed into a pontoon boat And while the charges were later dismissed Knight was also sued in 2012 after a friend died after slipping off Knight's yacht Knight's attorney provided a letter that they had sent to FWC requesting "the preservation of evidence." The concert venue released a statement asking that “judgment be reserved” while authorities investigate what happened they say they will miss his smile and positive vibe "If you met Jose one time in your life my brother was always the person that was the happiest man in this world,” Todd said PALM HARBOR, Fla. — The sister of the man who was killed when a recreational boat crashed into the Clearwater Ferry on Sunday said she wants justice for her brother as the FWC has not filed charges in the case “This guy have to pay for what he did to my brother He take away his happiness from us,” said Sandy Todd Todd said she was told by an FWC officer that her brother was riding in the back of the ferry when it was struck from behind by the boat which caused a head injury and knocked him into the water Ten other passengers were also injured in the crash “This is a tragedy that we don’t know how to handle.” The sister said Castro was a hard working dad who left behind two daughters She said he worked overnights for the postal service and lived in Palm Harbor “A wonderful father. He was an amazing person “My brother was the happiest man in this world they can tell you that he was always working with a smile Spectrum News is not naming the recreational boat driver because he has not been charged with a crime he remained at the scene for a period of time but left before law enforcement arrived Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office deputies located the driver about 3.5 miles south of the crash scene and seized the boat FWC said the driver voluntarily gave a breath sample sent a letter to the lead FWC investigator outlining why he believes his client should not be charged with a crime: Hayslett said it is crucial to emphasize that no signs of alcohol or drug impairment were noted by law enforcement he acted lawfully and responsibly,” he stated “Exercising sound judgment under high-stress conditions.”   As the complicated FWC investigation unfolds the Castro family has been making funeral arrangement Todd said her 75-year-old grief-stricken mother flew in from Peru on Wednesday They took her out of the plane in her connection thinking that she was passing out,” she said “My mom is a happy woman… I don't think she's going to have a smile on her face anymore.” The ferry had been carrying 45 people from Clearwater Beach when the collision was first reported at 8:43 p.m Time-stamped video recorded by a city web camera at Coachman Park shows the boat crashing into the back of the ferry at 8:40 p.m it began to slowly motor away from the scene The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which is investigating the collision, said Knight, 62, was cooperative and voluntarily took a Breathalyzer test Sunday night, which registered no alcohol in his system. He is not charged with a crime. Hayslett’s letter states that immediately after the crash, Knight directed a passenger on his boat to call 911, and the passenger remained on the line with a call taker for nearly 12 minutes. “During this time, the caller relayed updates and emergency directions, such as telling Mr. Knight to instruct all the ferry passengers to immediately put on a life jacket,” the letter states. “Mr. Knight tied his vessel to the ferry in order to stabilize it and render aid. He used his boat to maneuver the ferry closer to shore so that first responders would have easier access to the passengers.” Damage to the exterior of a center console boat made by Statement Marine of Clearwater is documented as it remains parked at the Belleair boat ramp south of the site of a crash involving the boat and a Clearwater Ferry on Sunday. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ] While Knight was still on the scene, he noticed that his boat had taken on “a large amount of water and all of his bilge pumps were activated,” the letter states. Additionally, the mother of an 8-week-old child on board “pleaded for immediate transport following the crash” because she was concerned the infant may have been injured. “However, given the circumstances, including vessel draft, water depth, and the compromised condition of Mr. Knight’s boat, he prudently determined that returning to dock as quickly as possible was the best course of action,” the letter states. “Again, it is important to note that he waited until emergency personnel arrived on scene before he departed.” As Knight was trying to navigate to shore who conducted a visual inspection of his boat and determined he was able to continue to the Belleair boat ramp Knight was “towed to the boat ramp on their insistence where fire rescue met the infant to do a medical assessment.” The letter also says there is “credible concern” that the ferry was not displaying the required navigational lights at the time of the crash “Multiple witnesses have reported that the ferry appeared inadequately illuminated and that in the moments before the collision diminishing navigational awareness,” the letter states The letter asserts that widely circulated footage of the crash was “artificially brightened at the time of recording by nighttime enhancement filters which may give a misleading impression of visibility.” The letter asks for access to “unedited declined to comment Wednesday on the lighting concerns laid out in Hayslett’s letter Tom Leogrande is a manager at Captain Memo’s Pirate Cruise His ship’s crew were some of the first to render aid minutes after the crash Leogrande said he had doubts about Knight’s claims that the ferry lights were inadequate or out of commission that night It would be the first night (the ferry’s lighting) was out,” Leogrande said “We see the ferry every night that they’re out And we’ve never had a problem seeing the ferry.” Leogrande said the cruise ship’s captain told him he could clearly see the glow of the ferry’s front navigational lights that night but couldn’t say whether lights were on at the stern He hopes investigators take the entire video into account not just a snippet released during a news conference Monday Wait until the investigation,” Leogrande said Coast Guard and all of our law enforcement agencies around here that they’re going to come to the correct conclusion of what caused this accident.” Leogrande also expressed sympathy for the victim, 41-year-old Jose Castro of Palm Harbor our prayers definitely go out to Jose and his family,” he said and I’m sure our entire community feels for them.” In 2012, Knight was on his yacht, Pure Knight Life, in the waters off the Renaissance Vinoy Resort with a group of friends after a night of partying, police said, when one of them fell off the boat. The man hit his head on the way down and drowned. The Medical Examiner’s Office found the man had alcohol and cocaine in his system. Emily WunderlichMidday Editor Jack Prator is a reporter covering breaking news and environment. Reach him at jprator@tampabay.com.