On April 27, 2025, a reckless and negligent driver of a 37-foot recreational boat rammed the back of a 40-foot pontoon boat, killing one and injuring multiple others, including a mother who is 31 weeks pregnant. Here’s the latest.
April 29 Update: Driver Identified in Deadly Clearwater Ferry Crash
FWC officials identified Jeffrey Knight, 62, of St. Petersburg, as the operator of the large recreational boat that crashed into the Clearwater ferry on Sunday night, killing one and seriously injuring multiple others. At the time of the original post, it was known that Knight was the registered owner (and likely the driver), but that has not yet been confirmed. We now know Knight was, in fact, the driver.
Knight has a long history of vehicle crimes dating back to 2012, and is also involved in an investigation where a man was killed while on Knight’s boat, according to public records.
Watch the deadly boat crash from a local CCTV:
Knight’s prior boating crimes include:
- Ongoing: Jeff Knight is currently facing serious sexual allegations by a former female employee in Pinellas County Circuit Court, with paperwork claiming he is a ‘known sexual harasser,’ according to the Daily Mail.
- 2019: Knight was charged in a boating accident, which was later dismissed.
- 2017: Knight was cited for careless operation of a vessel after allowing a boy under the age of 14 to operate a personal watercraft unsupervised in John’s Pass. He pleaded no contest and was fined.
- 2012: Knight was involved in a boating incident where a man died after falling off his boat. The victim had a blood-alcohol content of 0.239 and cocaine in his system. The victim’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Knight, alleging the gangplank was “inherently dangerous” due to the lack of a two-sided railing. The outcome of the lawsuit is unclear.
In addition to this almost unbelievable list of incidents, crimes, and allegations, Jeff Knight has also been charged with three DUIs while driving a car in 1992, 2002, and 2012. In each case, he pleaded no contest and received probation and fines.
Although Knight was given a breathalyzer test after Sunday’s crash, no alcohol was detected, according to FWC. There is no word on whether they took blood or other samples to determine if there were drugs in his system.
His attorney told 10 Tampa Bay, “This is a heartbreaking situation for everyone involved. Out of deep respect for Mr. Castro’s family, and for the many others who were injured, it would be inappropriate to comment publicly at this time.”
At this time, it’s unclear whether killing people and then fleeing the scene, or making a comment through your lawyer, is more inappropriate.
Officials say Knight initially left the scene, but was found by law enforcement with passengers on board around 3.5 miles south. According to news reports, Knight claimed they fled to get people on their craft to help and because they were taking on water. Why they didn’t stop at one of the dozens of other docks that were not 3.5 miles away is unclear, nor is it clear whether or not any evidence was disposed of while they were fleeing.
Clearwater Police Chief Eric Gandy confirmed that the crash resulted in one fatality and ten injuries. Six victims were hospitalized as trauma alerts, with reported injuries including broken bones. Fortunately, no children were hurt.
The deceased victim has been identified as 41-year-old Jose Castro. FWC has seized both vessels as part of its ongoing investigation. No charges have been filed against Knight at this time, though based on the above list of crimes, that seems par for the course.
“Is this the same Jeff Knight who is in a legal battle for the guy falling off his yacht and dying?” said Melissa on a news station’s Facebook post.
“He left the scene and wasn’t arrested…But money talks, I guess. He’s rich,” opined Selina from the same Facebook post.
Original Article Published on April 28, 2025, before Updates Were Available
It was supposed to be a fun night out on the water, celebrating and partying with friends at an island festival. But at approximately 8:40 pm on Sunday, April 27, 2025, the exciting night turned into devastation when a fatal boat accident occurred as a private boat slammed into a ferry near the Memorial Causeway Bridge in Clearwater, Florida.
A group of festival-goers and vacationers were riding back to shore aboard the Clearwater Ferry after attending the last night of the 17-day Sugar Sand Festival. But their evening took a terrifying turn when a 37-foot private vessel slammed into the rear of the ferry, hard enough to shove the larger boat onto a nearby sandbar and leave several people seriously hurt.
Clearwater Police Chief Eric Gandy said that Knight’s reckless driving and speed allowed for the 37-foot boat to “over[ride] nearly three-quarters of the ferry,” meaning a large portion of the 44 passengers on board would have been hit by the solid hull.
However, it should be noted that the Clearwater Ferry is a large pontoon boat, not a solid steel ferry with indoor areas and a snack bar. Because of this, the 37-foot boat with a solid hull exerted serious force and caused significant damage to the roughly 40-foot ferry boat.
The Clearwater Ferry was carrying 44 passengers and resulted in one fatality and multiple injuries, including a woman who is 31 weeks pregnant. The incident was declared a “mass casualty” event by the Clearwater Fire Department.
This incident has raised significant legal and safety concerns, especially considering the death involved, two people needing to be airlifted from the scene, and the hit-and-run element.
After the crash, the private boat owner didn’t stick around to check on the damage it caused or the lives it had just ruined or ended. Instead, the operator fled the scene, leaving the victims stranded and injured in the middle of the Intracoastal Waterway, waiting for help.
According to officials from the Clearwater Police Department and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), all the injuries reported were among those passengers. The impact was so severe that six people were classified as trauma alerts, meaning they had potentially life-threatening injuries. Two of the injured were airlifted to nearby hospitals for emergency care.
Clearwater Fire & Rescue and other emergency crews responded quickly to the hit-and-run and evacuated everyone from the ferry, which was now stranded on a sandbar just south of the Memorial Causeway Bridge.
Photos from the scene show the ferry mangled and leaning in shallow water as the first responders worked to safely remove the injured and address the situation.
So far, investigators believe the crash occurred because the private boat operator acted negligently by failing to maintain a proper lookout and not slowing down or changing course to avoid hitting the ferry from behind.
Whether alcohol, distracted driving, or reckless operation was involved is still under investigation, but what’s certain is that the decision to flee the scene has turned an already devastating situation into a criminal one.
The Coast Guard said six people were on board the recreational boat that fled the scene. The boat was later identified; however, further details about the at-fault vessel have not been made available yet.
FWC told ABC Action News that the 29-foot boat that struck the Clearwater ferry is registered to Jeff Knight, owner of Jannus Live, a popular music venue in St Pete. Authorities have not confirmed whether Knight himself was behind the wheel at the time of the crash.
Florida law holds boat operators, and in some cases boat owners, accountable for damage and injuries caused by negligence on the water. And fleeing after causing a serious crash like this one isn’t just morally wrong, it’s a felony offense.
This senseless hit-and-run has left the Clearwater community shaken and families of the victims demanding justice. As of the most recent reports, law enforcement continues to search for answers about who exactly was operating the private boat that night and why they chose to run instead of render aid.
Legal Implications of the Ferry Boat Accident in Clearwater
As we mentioned, law enforcement later located the fleeing vessel. The FWC is leading the investigation to determine the cause of the collision and will decide on any potential criminal charges.
This incident shows the importance of accountability when operating a boat. Boating is often associated with fun in the sun, and that usually means drinking. But boats can be deadly too, especially while drinking and driving. Boat owners and operators have a legal duty to ensure the safety of others on the water. Failure to do so can result in severe civil and criminal issues, including criminal charges related to the hit-and-run and perhaps drinking while boating, and criminal liability for negligence and wrongful death.
Clearwater Boat Accident Lawyer – Ferry Boat Accident Clearwater
Victims and their families affected by the Clearwater boat crash, or any similar boating incident, can seek legal action to recover any damages the accident caused, including medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other losses. In cases of a fatality, the family may file a wrongful death claim to seek compensation and hold the responsible parties accountable.
For more information on how to proceed with a boating injury claim, visit our Boat Accident Lawyer page to see how Dolman Law Group can help.
At Dolman Law Group, our award-winning attorneys have successfully handled thousands of injury claims across Florida and the country, securing over $200 million in settlements and verdicts for accident victims and their families.
Our team includes a board-certified Civil Trial Lawyer by the Florida Bar—a distinction held by less than 2% of Florida attorneys, demonstrating our commitment to excellence and proven courtroom experience. With decades of combined legal experience, we are ready to fight hard to hold negligent parties accountable and maximize the compensation you deserve.
Images: Image of Memorial Causeway Bridge by Andrew Heneen, CC BY 4.0,
