The 37 passengers injured in the deadly Clearwater Ferry collision will split a $300,000 settlement from the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority, closing the transit agency's financial liability more than 15 months after the crash that killed Jose Luis Castro Ulloa.

The PSTA Board of Directors approved the payout on its consent agenda Wednesday, July 22. Combined with just over $200,000 in earlier settlements, the agency has now distributed its full $500,000 allocation for crash-related claims, according to PSTA records. How the money will be divided among individual claimants has not been disclosed.

"My brother's life is priceless, we just want justice for this life," Sandy Todd, Castro Ulloa's sister, told Tampa Bay 28 on July 22 after the board vote.

PSTA said in a statement that it is grateful to have reached a settlement with all claimants who were aboard the ferry that night and that its thoughts remain with everyone impacted.

What happened

The Clearwater Ferry was carrying 45 passengers from Clearwater Beach to Coachman Park on Sunday, April 27, 2025, following the final evening of the Sugar Sand Festival. Near the Memorial Causeway, a private recreational vessel struck the ferry. Castro Ulloa, 41, was killed. Ten others were reported injured.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission led the investigation, with the U.S. Coast Guard and local agencies also responding.

The ferry captain's fine

Clearwater Ferry captain Dennis Kimerer was cited after investigators determined the ferry's stern light was not operating at the time of the collision, according to WorkBoat. The charge was reduced to a noncriminal infraction in May 2026. Kimerer pleaded guilty and was fined $500.

Criminal case against the boat operator

Jeffry Knight, who authorities allege was operating the private vessel, faces 24 charges including eight felony counts of leaving the scene of a boating accident involving death or serious bodily injury. Knight has pleaded not guilty.

At a pretrial hearing Friday, July 24, defense attorney Kevin Hayslett told the court that Coast Guard reports have not been turned over despite subpoenas. The next pretrial date is set for Friday, October 9, when Judge Pat Siracusa will also consider whether Knight's 2019 boating accident can be used as evidence. Trial is scheduled to begin February 1, 2027.

Speaking outside court on Friday, July 24, Todd told Tampa Bay 28 she wants the Coast Guard to release its reports. "We need help from the Coast Guard, we need them to release the reports so this can be over and let my brother rest," she said.

PSTA's next ferry plans

Separate from the crash fallout, PSTA is advancing a new Tampa Bay Ferry service connecting downtown Tampa and downtown St. Petersburg. The agency purchased two vessels using $4.8 million approved by Tampa and Pinellas County officials in April 2026. Both boats have completed sea trials and are expected to arrive in the Tampa Bay area by late summer, with service potentially beginning in the fall at a target one-way fare of $10.

The new route does not serve Clearwater Harbor directly, but PSTA's existing Clearwater Ferry carried an estimated 25,000 passengers in 2025 and is expected to surpass that number in 2026, according to the agency.

Stetson Law professor Anthony Palermo, who independently reviewed the settlement, told Bay News 9 that as a government entity, PSTA could have raised sovereign immunity to cap its exposure further. Separate civil lawsuits against Knight, the ferry operator, and its insurer remain active.

Residents with information about the crash can contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 888-404-3922.