PALM HARBOR, Fla. — The sister of the man who was killed when a recreational boat crashed into the Clearwater Ferry on Sunday said she wants justice for her brother as the FWC has not filed charges in the case.
“This guy have to pay for what he did to my brother. He take away his life. He take away his happiness from us,” said Sandy Todd. “He take away a father. He take away a son for my mom.”
Todd said she was told by an FWC officer that her brother, Jose Castro, 41, was riding in the back of the ferry when it was struck from behind by the boat, which caused a head injury and knocked him into the water. Ten other passengers were also injured in the crash.
“It’s not fair. I want justice for my brother,” said Todd. “This is a tragedy that we don’t know how to handle.”
The sister said Castro was a hard working dad who left behind two daughters, ages 3 and 8. She said he worked overnights for the postal service and lived in Palm Harbor.
“A wonderful father. He was an amazing person, humble guy,” she said. “My brother was the happiest man in this world. Everybody who knows my brother, they can tell you that he was always working with a smile, with a positive vibe all the time.”
Spectrum News is not naming the recreational boat driver because he has not been charged with a crime. According to FWC, he remained at the scene for a period of time but left before law enforcement arrived.
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office deputies located the driver about 3.5 miles south of the crash scene and seized the boat. FWC said the driver voluntarily gave a breath sample, which showed no alcohol in his system.
On Wednesday, the driver’s attorney, Kevin Hayslett, sent a letter to the lead FWC investigator outlining why he believes his client should not be charged with a crime:
- Claims a concern that the ferry’s stern light was not visible.
- Claims the driver asked a passenger to call 911.
- Claims the boat remained at the scene for nearly 12 minutes.
- Claims the driver offered to transport injured ferry passengers to Morton Plant Hospital but it was declined.
- Claims the driver left after his boat began taking on water and he was concerned about an infant on-board.
Hayslett said it is crucial to emphasize that no signs of alcohol or drug impairment were noted by law enforcement.
“At every point, he acted lawfully and responsibly,” he stated. “Exercising sound judgment under high-stress conditions.”
As the complicated FWC investigation unfolds, the Castro family has been making funeral arrangement. Todd said her 75-year-old grief-stricken mother flew in from Peru on Wednesday.
“We are very worried about her. They took her out of the plane in her connection, thinking that she was passing out,” she said. “My mom is a happy woman… I don’t think she’s going to have a smile on her face anymore.”
