The driver of a recreational boat involved in a deadly crash with a ferry near Clearwater, Florida, on April 27, has denied fleeing the scene, as reported by multiple news outlets. The man, identified as local businessman Jeff Knight, stayed at the scene until first responders arrived, his lawyer revealed in a letter to investigators.
According to the lawyer, Knight tried to provide assistance and even offered to transport passengers to a hospital on his boat, which was declined. Despite earlier reports stating the boat fled the scene, the lawyer emphasized that Knight followed Florida law by trying to help and prevent his boat from sinking.
The collision, which occurred near the Memorial Causeway bridge, resulted in injuries to several passengers on the ferry. The investigation is ongoing, with concerns raised about the visibility of the ferry's navigational lights prior to the crash.
Knight, who is listed as the president of Jannus Live, has since stepped down from his position following the incident to respect the victims and ensure ongoing developments do not impact the venue's operations.
Contributing: Christopher Cann, N'dea Yancey-Bragg and Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY