Upset about a car crash, Cleo takes the boat (7)
I believe the answer is:
coracle
'the boat' is the definition.
(coracle is a kind of boat)
'upset about a car crash' is the wordplay.
'upset' becomes 'cole' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'about' indicates an anagram.
'crash' is an insertion indicator (inserted letters crash into another word).
'car' with letters rearranged gives 'rac'.
'cole' going around 'rac' is 'CORACLE'.
'cleo takes' acts as a link.
This may not be right. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for coracle that I've seen before include "Traditional rounded boat with wicker frame" , "Welsh version of the currach" , "Small rounded boat" , "Small round boat of hides stretched over a wicker frame" , "craft" .)