Quite a few people have been harm in a spectacular crash Sunday when a ship rammed right into a ferry close to Clearwater’s Memorial Causeway Bridge, fleeing the realm earlier than authorities arrived, officers reported. The accident, which was met with a mass casualty response, occurred because the ferry was transporting over 40 passengers.
The Clearwater Police Division confirmed the accident in a tweet on X (previously Twitter), stating a number of accidents. Due to the severity of the accidents, the Clearwater Hearth & Rescue Division stated the incident was a “mass casualty incident.” Everybody injured was on the ferry, which was stranded on a sandbar south of the Memorial Causeway Bridge.
First responders rush to the scene
Emergency responders, each police and firefighters, arrived on the scene in flashing lights, and movies on social media displayed the pandemonium of the second. A number of helicopters have been requested to take two of the extra critically injured passengers, who have been designated as “trauma alerts.” Authorities refused to launch an instantaneous depend of accidents, although it’s reported that a number of people suffered critical damage.
“All native hospitals have been alerted, and a number of other trauma alerts have been known as,” Clearwater police reported in a press release. “Helicopters are taking probably the most critically injured.” Officers confirmed that each one passengers, together with the injured, have been safely evacuated from the ferry.
Fleeing boat behind the collision
In a disturbing flip of occasions, the boat that prompted the crash deserted the scene. The US Coast Guard confirmed that the boat in query was a pleasure boat, however no further details about it was launched. The Clearwater Police have but to launch any data relating to the registration of the boat or its driver.
The accident passed off near a busy spot for locals and vacationers alike, for the reason that Memorial Causeway Bridge hyperlinks Clearwater to Clearwater Seashore. The authorities are actively pursuing the escaping boat, and the US Coast Guard and the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Fee are serving to with the investigation.
Investigation beneath method
The accident has left many questions, reminiscent of the explanation for the escaping boat. Authorities are looking for the boat and set up its relation to the accident. The Clearwater Police have known as on anybody with data relating to the whereabouts of the boat to report.
The crash has additional raised issues of safety within the space for the reason that Memorial Causeway Bridge is a extremely trafficked freeway connecting Clearwater and the seashore. Clearwater authorities are additional wanting into the crash and what might need precipitated the accident.
