One dead, several hurt in Florida ferry crash

At least one person was killed and several others injured after a ferry was involved in a hit-and-run crash in Florida. Authorities confirmed the crash took place in Clearwater, Florida.

The Clearwater Police Department said the vessel that collided with the ferry fled the scene immediately after impact.

Emergency services responded quickly, issuing "multiple trauma alerts," and two seriously injured individuals were airlifted to nearby hospitals.

“All injuries were sustained by passengers aboard the ferry," police said, adding that the striking boat was believed to be privately owned.

The ferry came to rest on a sandbar south of the Memorial Causeway Bridge, and all passengers and crew were safely evacuated.

The US Coast Guard has launched an investigation into the incident.

The crash occurred during the final night of Clearwater’s 17-day Sugar Sand Festival, where ferries were being used extensively to transport festival attendees.

Clearwater Mayor Bruce Rector said the situation was classified as a "mass casualty incident," emphasizing that the term refers to the number of injuries and not necessarily fatalities.

No deaths have been reported.

Officials are continuing efforts to locate the boat that fled the scene after the collision in Florid