Clearwater, Florida – A video released by police shows the moment a recreational boat slammed into the back of a ferry, killing one man and injuring ten others.

The crash happened around 8:40 p.m. Sunday as the 40-foot commercial ferry was returning from Clearwater Beach with 45 people onboard. Authorities said the recreational boat was 37 feet long and carried six people.

Police Chief Eric Gandy said the boat “overrode nearly three-quarters of the ferry.” The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission confirmed both vessels were “fully entangled.”

Before emergency crews arrived, 911 calls came in with “horrific screaming” in the background. A mayday call reported, “There’s been a boat collision. The Clearwater Ferry is adrift.”

The man who died was identified as Jose Castro, 41, of Palm Harbor. The injured were taken to hospitals in Clearwater, St. Petersburg, and Tampa.

Gandy praised the ferry crew, saying they “likely saved lives.”

He also said the recreational boat left the crash site and was later found near the Belleair Causeway. The operator, Jeff Knight, 63, and his passengers were still onboard.

Knight’s lawyer, J. Kevin Hayslett, denied that Knight fled. He said Knight stayed at the scene, called 911, and helped stabilize the ferry by tying his boat to it. He said Knight used his vessel to move the ferry closer to shore for easier rescue.

Hayslett claimed the ferry may not have had the required navigational lights and that witnesses saw the ferry’s captain and passengers distracted by dolphins.

Authorities said Knight voluntarily took a blood alcohol test, which came back negative. The investigation is ongoing.

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