The Clearwater Fire and Rescue Department declared the crash a "mass casualty incident" due to the number of injuries.

The Clearwater Police Department posted on X that there were multiple injuries and the crash had been declared “a mass casualty incident” by the Clearwater Fire & Rescue Department due to the number of injuries. All of those injured were aboard the ferry, which was carrying more than 40 people.

A ferry ushering families from a popular sand sculpting competition in Florida was struck by a recreational boat in an apparent hit-and-run – killing one ferry passenger and injuring several others, police and witnesses said.