Clearwater Ferry passenger injured in crash sues man who was driving powerboat

Tony Marrero, Tampa Bay Times on May 7, 2025

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TAMPA, Fla. — A Clearwater Ferry passenger who was injured when another boat crashed into the back of it has filed a lawsuit against the Pinellas County man who said he was at the wheel.

Passenger Nicole Makelele was injured when Jeff Knight crashed a 37-foot powerboat into the Maddie’s Crossing ferry near the Clearwater Memorial Causeway on April 27, according to the lawsuit filed Monday in Pinellas County.

The lawsuit alleges that Knight, 62, was “careless and negligent” by operating at an excessive speed for the conditions and without due regard for other vessels. The complaint also accuses Knight of failing to maintain a proper lookout and take evasive action, and fleeing the scene without rendering aid or providing identification.

Makelele was seriously injured in the crash and is seeking a jury trial and damages of more than $50,000, the suit states.

The lawsuit appears to be the first filed against Knight stemming from the crash that killed a Palm Harbor father of two and injured at least 10 other people on the ferry that evening.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating the crash. Knight has not been cited or criminally charged.

Makelele, who has been a teacher for Pinellas County schools for about 20 years, was still in the hospital Wednesday, one of her attorneys, Michael Wyatt, said in an interview. It’s unclear if she’ll be able to return to work, Wyatt said.

“These are catastrophic injuries, and she’s going to be dealing with this for the rest of her life,” he said.

Makelele was sitting with her son toward the back of the ferry when the crash happened, Wyatt said.

“They were enjoying their day and this tragic incident occurs,” he said.

An attorney representing Knight, J. Kevin Hayslett, referred the Tampa Bay Times on Wednesday to another attorney who is handling civil action that arises from the incident. That attorney did not immediately respond to a voicemail message.

City footage of the crash shows the recreational boat plowing into the back of the ferry, overtaking about two-thirds of the vessel.

For about 10 minutes, Knight stayed at the scene, the footage shows.

Law enforcement found Knight and his boat about 3½ miles away and towed it to the Belleair Causeway Boat Ramp. He voluntarily submitted to a breath test that showed no alcohol in his system, officials have said.

Knight did not provide a blood sample to test for drugs but was evaluated by a drug recognition expert who did not find signs that Knight was impaired, according to Hayslett.

In letters to investigators with the wildlife commission, Hayslett wrote that Knight directed passengers on his boat to call 911, and that a passenger was on the phone with the operator for about 12 minutes.

Hayslett wrote that Knight used his boat to push the ferry into shallower water near the causeway and stayed until Clearwater Fire Rescue arrived. After that, Hayslett wrote, Knight decided to head to his home dock, located about 10 minutes away, because he was concerned his boat was taking on water.

Hayslett wrote that there is “credible concern” that the ferry was not properly lit, especially at the stern, as required by law.

A second letter to investigators Thursday included sworn statements from some of Knight’s passengers who wrote that he shouted after the crash that he didn’t see any lights on the ferry.

The wildlife commission and the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority, which operates the ferry, have declined to comment about the ferry’s lights and other issues, citing the ongoing investigation.

Hayslett wrote in a third letter dated Sunday that it did not appear that the ferry crew gave a warning signal as Knight’s boat approached.

A Sarasota couple and their attorney told the Times this week that some of those comments appear to be blaming the victims in the incident rather than taking accountability.

Wyatt said the conflicting accounts, ongoing investigation and still-unanswered questions prompted them to file Makelele’s complaint against Knight, which gives the attorneys subpoena power.

“As some of the other attorneys have said, it seems like there’s a lot of blame-shifting here onto the ferry, but that’s exactly why we filed this lawsuit,” Wyatt said. “We want to get to the bottom of this and conduct a thorough investigation.”

Knight is a Largo business owner who stepped down as minority owner of the Jannus Live venue in St. Petersburg after the crash.