CLEARWATER, Fla. (WFLA) — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced Tuesday the captain of the Clearwater Ferry is also facing a charge in connection to April’s deadly collision.

Investigators said that crash left one man dead and 10 others injured.

“Ferry boat captain Dennis Kimerer has been charged with violating a navigation rule for failing to have a working stern light,” FWC Maj. Evan Laskowski explained.

8 On Your Side asked investigators how they were able to determine the stern light was not functioning at the time of the collision, given the damage to the Clearwater Ferry.

“Factually speaking, Mr. Kimerer was charged as the captain of that vessel for not having that light present at the time of the event,” FWC Officer Matt Dallarosa responded. “That fact has been documented and that’s what that charge is for.”

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 sustained life-threatening injuries in this tragic incident—is without merit. The evidence makes clear that Mr. Knight was operating his vessel at an unsafe and reckless speed. He then fled the scene of the collision—conduct that speaks volumes about where the fault lies. As any experienced boater or motorist understands, equipment malfunctions can occur in transit. A single light failure does not absolve another operator of the responsibility to navigate safely, maintain situational awareness, and adjust speed accordingly. The obligation to operate at a safe speed exists precisely to allow for the unexpected—something Mr. Knight negligently ignored. Additionally, public statements indicate other boaters in the vicinity could see the ferry despite the equipment failure.”

Steven D’Amico, Ferry Captain’s family member

As it relates to Jeff Knight, the man accused of operating the boat that slammed into the Clearwater Ferry, FWC Officer Matt Dellarosa said, “The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office ultimately stopped Mr. Knight a good distance from the scene and the discussion he had with those deputies did not indicate any desire to remain at the scene and that’s what led us to 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.”