The person piloting a ship that fatally slammed right into a Florida ferry over the weekend was not inebriated in the course of the accident, officers mentioned.
Jeff Knight handed sobriety checks when he was detained Sunday after fleeing from the lethal wreck in Clearwater Sunday night time, which left one ferry passenger lifeless and quite a few injured within the waterway off Tampa Bay.
He was reportedly cooperative and a breathalyzer take a look at discovered no alcohol in his system, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Fee introduced Monday.
Knight was allegedly driving a non-public boat carrying about six passengers when he slammed at a excessive velocity into the again of the Clearwater Ferry, which was loaded with 45 passengers.
The collision left the ferry’s stern mangled and cover shredded — then Knight allegedly sped away and left the ferry excessive and dry, the Tampa Bay Instances reported.
Not less than 10 ferry passengers had been injured — with two requiring airlifts — whereas Jose Castro, 41, was killed.
“Even earlier than the primary responders arrived on scene, we knew we had been coping with a significant scenario,” Clearwater Chief of Police Eric Gandy informed reporters Monday, describing “horrific screaming” that may very well be heard within the background of the emergency name.
Knight’s boat appeared to have “overrode almost three-quarters of the ferry,” Gandy added. The suspect was later discovered on his boat nearly 4 miles away.
The ferry got here to a relaxation on a sandbar, the place authorities rushed to evacuate the passengers.
Their accidents ranged from damaged bones to move accidents and different traumas.
Among the many passengers was Brenda Alvarez — 31 weeks pregnant — who was thrown from her seat and left lined in bruises.
“It’s very scary. I fell between two seats, and my entire physique hurts proper now,” she informed ABC Motion Information, explaining that she checked herself into the hospital simply to be protected.
“We will’t perceive how briskly they had been going, like how that was even logically doable that they hit and had been capable of get off like that,” she added. “It shattered the entire again of the boat, left an enormous dent.”
The incident occurred on the shut of the Sugar Sand Pageant, and the ferry was serving to carry folks forwards and backwards from the festivities.
Knight may face costs for leaving the scene of a crash, in line with officers.
Supply hyperlink
