The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has reported that the captain of the Clearwater Ferry is now facing a charge linked to a fatal collision in April.
Investigators said that crash left one man dead and 10 others injured.
FWC Major Evan Laskowski stated, “Ferry boat captain Dennis Kimerer has been charged with a navigation rule violation for not having a functioning stern light.”
8 On Your Side queried investigators about how they confirmed the stern light was inoperative at the collision, considering the damage to the ferry.
FWC Officer Matt Dallarosa replied, “As the vessel’s captain, Mr. Kimerer was charged for not having the light at the time of the incident. This fact is documented, leading to the charge.”
Kimerer’s son-in-law, Steven D’Amico, sent the following statement to 8 On Your Side regarding the ferry boat captain’s new charge:
“The charge against Captain Dennis Kimerer, who suffered life-threatening injuries in this tragic event, lacks merit. Evidence shows Mr. Knight was operating his vessel at an unsafe and reckless speed and fled the scene—conduct that clearly indicates where the fault lies. Any experienced boater knows equipment can fail in transit. A single light failure doesn’t relieve another operator of safely navigating and maintaining situational awareness. The duty to operate at a safe speed is to account for the unexpected—something Mr. Knight negligently ignored. Other boaters reportedly saw the ferry despite the equipment issue.”
Steven D’Amico, Ferry Captain’s family member
Regarding Jeff Knight, the alleged operator of the boat that collided with the Clearwater Ferry, FWC Officer Matt Dallarosa noted, “The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office intercepted Mr. Knight far from the scene. His talk with deputies showed no intent to stay at the scene, resulting in the charges we have today.”
Knight’s attorney, Kevin Hayslett, took issue with the charges, saying they’re largely based on Knight’s demeanor after the collision.
In a statement sent to 8 On Your Side, Hayslett said in part, “When a law enforcement agency charges someone based on how they looked — not what they did — that’s not justice. That’s opinion masquerading as law.”
Dallarosa, on the other hand, explained how Knight’s demeanor came into play at a press conference Tuesday afternoon.
“That 911 call, as it progresses, you can hear a voice that says, you know, ‘I don’t want you to say anything,’ there are a lot of things that are being caught on that 911 call,” he explained. “So with that, we felt there was a significant change in an attempt to not stay.”
