One person has died and multiple people have been injured after ferry and boat were involved in a catastrophic collision police have confirmed. Emergency services rushed to the scene near the Memorial Causeway Bridge in Clearwater, Florida where multiple helicopters have been seen airlifting victims to nearby hospitals.

Emergency responders are on-site, and authorities are investigating the cause of the incident, which fire officials are calling a "mass casualty event". Eyewitnesses say at least four people have been airlifted to hospital so far in completely chaotic scenes.

In a statement on X The Clearwater Police Department shared: "Along with @clearwaterfire, we’re working a boat crash off the Memorial Causeway bridge that has resulted in multiple injuries. It’s been declared a mass casualty incident by the fire department due to the number of injuries. All local hospitals have been notified. Multiple trauma alerts have been called with helicopters transporting two of the more seriously injured. Drivers should avoid Memorial Causeway.

"The crash involved the Clearwater Ferry, which had more than 40 people on board. All of the injuries are from the ferry. The boat that struck the ferry fled the scene. The @USCG and @MyFWC will be handling the crash investigation. The ferry came to rest on a sandbar just south of the Memorial Causeway bridge. All patients and passengers have been removed from the boat."

In the latest update from police they have confirmed one person has died, writing on X: "One person has died from injuries in tonight’s boat crash. @MyFWC will be handing the crash investigation."

The City of Clearwater said police and fire services remain a the scene. The cause of the crash and the exact number of injured persons has not been confirmed by authorities.