FWC Investigating a Fatal Boating Crash Between a Jet Ski and Center Console Boat in Clearwater
Multiple agencies were dispatched to a boating collision at approximately 4:48 pm on Saturday, September 23, 2017. The reported address given was 941 Bay Esplanade in the intracoastal. The crash is being investigated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). The operator of the jet ski was 52-year-old Craig Butz and the passenger, a 4-year-old female. Butz sustained serious injuries and was transported to Morton Plant hospital for treatment where he was later pronounced deceased. His 4 yr old daughter, Teagan Butz, sustained serious injuries and was flown via Bayflite to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg. As of Sunday morning, she was still in critical condition. The 34 foot center console boat involved was operated by 67 year-old Thomas Carey of Clearwater, Florida. This accident investigation is ongoing Craig Butz served as principal at Pepin Academies since June 2013 and his Linkedin profile lists him as the current Executive Director for Pepin Academies. The residence at 941 Bay Esplanade also has connections to the Pepin Distributing Company. 
Updated Sunday, September 24, 2017 at 11:30 am. Operator of jet ski added and status of the 4 year-old child still critical. Operator of the 34 foot center console identified as 67 year-old Thomas Carey [gmap-embed id=”20191″]