Family remembers Jose Castro, father killed in Clearwater ferry crash

The family of Jose Castro, the man tragically killed in the recent Clearwater ferry and boat crash, is sharing memories of a devoted father, a caring brother, and a man who embraced life with joy and positivity.

Sandy Todd, Castro’s sister, described him as her best friend—someone who was always there to talk, to laugh, and to uplift others. But the week of the accident, something was different. The two didn't talk as much as they normally did. What she didn't know at the time was that those would be their final conversations.

“It’s devastating. I wasn’t expecting this. I wasn’t expecting that someone was going to take my brother’s life at 41 years old,” Sandy said through tears.

Jose was a father to two young daughters, ages 8 and 3. Sandy recalled the last time she saw him—just days before the crash—as a joyful moment filled with music and dancing.

“He grabbed his girls and said he’s not coming back. For me, it was his last goodbye,” she said.

The news came in the early hours of Monday morning. Sandy was awakened by a knock at her door around 2:30 a.m.

“Investigators, the police, they came and gave me the news—my brother had a boat accident,” she recalled.

Jose's daughters were not on board.

Now, the family is grieving a loss that feels both sudden and senseless. Sandy says she wants justice.

“I want this person who did this to pay for what he did,” she said. “I know my brother is not coming back. I know my mom won’t have her son again. And those girls won’t have their father.”

Questions still surround the cause of the crash and the status of the boat’s driver. Officials are continuing their investigation.