Ferry 40-foot hit by 37-foot boat in Clearwater on Sunday, April 27, no charges yet

[Beringia]

I moved this from Latest Breaking News after it was locked as too old

Source: Patch Clearwater Florida

Ferry crash happened on Sunday, April 27.

On Tuesday, April 29, Jeffrey Knight’s attorney denied that the businessman fled the scene of the crash, according to multiple reports.

In a letter to investigators, the attorney addressed what he called “misinformation” about the crash and pushed back on reports that the 62-year-old left quickly after the crash.

"Immediately after the accident, Mr. Knight directed a passenger on his vessel to call 911, and that passenger remained on the line with 911 for 12 minutes… 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,” the letter reads, according to Fox 13.

The family of the man killed in the ferry crash, Jose Castro, 41, a U.S. postal worker from Palm Harbor, is demanding justice following the fatal incident. They say they don’t understand why Knight hasn’t been arrested.

“I want this guy to pay for what he did, for what we’re going through right now,” Castro’s sister, Sandy Todd, told the Tampa Bay Times. “My family is destroyed.”

The devastated mother of the passenger killed in the ferry crash in Clearwater, Florida, is demanding justice for her son — as no one involved has been charged in the horrible collision.
José Castro, a 41-year-old father of two from Pinellas County, was killed when a private boat smashed into the back of the water taxi he was on Sunday night, with 10 others also injured.
His mother, Carmen Ulloa, immediately flew to Tampa from her home in Peru when she heard the devastating news.
“Let there be justice,” she said.
“There must be justice in this country … My son’s death cannot go unpunished.”

https://nypost.com/2025/05/02/us-news/mom-of-man-killed-in-clearwater-ferry-crash-demands-justice-my-sons-death-cannot-go-unpunished/



Read more: https://patch.com/florida/clearwater/boater-s-attorney-denies-he-fled-scene-fatal-clearwater-ferry-crash

Video shows moment of impact after boat crashes into Florida ferry

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14660289/millionaire-skipper-clearwater-ferry-crash-jeffry-knight.html

Sordid history of millionaire skipper Jeff Knight at the helm in fatal Clearwater ferry crash

By GREG WOODFIELD IN CLEARWATER, FLORIDA, FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

The skipper of the boat that slammed into a packed ferry killing a 41-year-old husband is a wealthy local entertainment tycoon once accused of negligence in another boating accident, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal.

Jeffry Knight, 62 – who has multiple venues in St Petersburg, Florida, and lives in a $5.2million waterfront mansion – was at the helm of the 37-foot triple-engine vessel when it hit the Clearwater Ferry on Sunday night.

[They_Live]

1. Looks like he was going waaaay too fast

and wasn't paying attention, for whatever reason. He should still be held responsible for all injuries and death.

[taxi]

2. How odd that the owner, Knight, says he directed a passenger on his boat to call 911

But when we are told of Knight's apprehension a short time later, it is only Knight seen being taken from his boat. Then any references made were only about Knight.
Not that there's anything to read between the lines here. Questions like who was operating the boat, was the operator drinking or impaired, were the occupants of the boat engaged in any activity that were distracting to the operator, are among questions that need to be answered. Why is operating a boat in a careless or wreckless manner not an issue?

[Kid Berwyn]

3. What the cops in Florida see.

Treat the drunk skipper like the rich white guy might be friends with DeSantis.

[dem4decades]

4. Too bad he didn't stay around and talk to the police, maybe even give a blood sample.

[dalton99a]

5. Kick