Tom Kline is considered an expert on mass injury accidents and has been called on to comment on the fatal duck boat accident that occurred in Philadelphia. A National Transportation Safety Board report determined the tugboat's pilot was distracted by repeated cell phone calls about a family emergency on the day of the collision. Police described the missing as a 16-year-old female and a 20-year-old male. An amphibious sightseeing boat that stalled in the Delaware River was knocked over by an oncoming barge Wednesday, spilling 37 people overboard, while two bodies were later found following a search. All Rights Reserved. Serious boating accidents are a real concern in California. "Calling, texting or accessing the internet are distractions. ", First published on May 6, 2012 / 11:59 PM. One of two missing Hungarian tourists has been found dead in the river on Friday . Gatlin said there was no recording of a mayday call from the boat. But in October 2016, the company suspended operations in the city. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. And, get breaking news delivered right to your mobile phone -- just text PHIBREAKING to 639710 to sign up. "The first thing I wanted to do was ride the ducks," said Stacy Crain, a visitor from Baltimore who had taken the tour last year before the collision that sank one of the amphibious crafts, sending 37 people tumbling into the water. Two bodies were found after a frantic, two-day search. The barge was roughly 250 feet long, according to the Coast Guard. Friday's accident left some visitors of the city a bit shaken. On July 7, 2010, a barge pushed by a tugboat struck a duck boat stranded in the Delaware River off Penn's Landing after an engine fire. ), Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. An engine problem was the first in a series of events that ended in the collision that killed Szabolcs Prem, 20, and Dora Schwendtner, 16. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? >> READ MORE:Ride the Ducks suspends operations in Philadelphia. At one time, it was not uncommon to see flocks of tourists carted throughout Philadelphia in boats on wheels. The NTSB says one factor contributing to the disaster was "Ride The Ducks" maintenance personnel who allegedly did not secure a pressure cap on DUKW 34, the official designation of the duck boat. Ride the Ducks and K-Sea Transportation Partners, which owned the tugboat, faced lawsuits and were ordered to give the families of the deceased $15 million. Lawyer for Duck Boat Accident Victims Says NTSB Report Bolster His Lawsuit The "duck boat," an amphibious vehicle whose design goes back to World War II, was anchored in the Delaware with. "When that duty is breached and causes death, the Seaman's Manslaughter Statute allows the federal government to seek criminal sanctions against the vessel operator. A spotter boat is also being used to track the tour craft in the event of an emergency. The barge was about 800 feet long, Petty Officer Lutz said, and it was being pulled by an 85-foot tug called the Caribbean Sea. July 2010 accident In July 2010, a Ride the Ducks vehicle stalled on the Delaware River in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was struck by a barge being pushed by a tugboat, sinking the duck boat and killing two of the passengers, who were Hungarian tourists. The tour splashed into the Delaware River on Thursday morning, taking a scaled-down route that goes only about 100 feet from shore and lasts 10 minutes, down from 30 minutes previously. PHILADELPHIA A placid Wednesday afternoon on the Delaware River here suddenly turned into mayhem when a barge plowed into an amphibious vessel packed with tourists that had stalled in the water. An explanation of the amphibious vehicles, California residents do not sell my data request. The bodies of the two students, Dora Schwendtner and Szablcs Prem, were found on Friday. "Those who operate transport vessels on our waterways have a clear duty to ensure that proper sightlines are maintained at all times, and to obey all other rules of seamanship, so that the risks to others on the water are minimized," said U.S. Attorney Zane Memeger. It went down within sight of a Coast Guard station. If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to our Donor Support Line at: 833-5SA-CARS (833-572-2277) . The buoy was visible from shore, with the Benjamin Franklin Bridge in the background. As of 2000, there were more than 250 refurbished amphibious vehicles in service nationwide, according to the NTSB. An earlier version of this article misspelled the surname of Commissioner Ramsey. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Boating accident attorney. Today's electronic age has made people accustomed to being connected 24/7," said Chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board Deborah Hersman. Less than a decade later, the company was involved in its first fatal accident in the city. Brian Taff reports during Action News at 6 p.m. on July 21, 2018. The tour company issued a short statement following the accident saying they've suspended operation for the time being. Hersman (right) says the accident that killed two visiting tourists from Hungary is just one example of the deadliness of distraction. The sites seen along the 70-minute voyage include Penn's Landing, Adventure Aquarium across the river in Camden, the Liberty Bell and Ben Franklin's gravesite. It was rammed and sunk by the barge, which was ferrying sewage for the City of Philadelphia (see previous story), Reported by John McDevitt, KYW Newsradio 1060; Ben Simmoneau, CBS 3, First published on June 21, 2011 / 5:00 PM. AP Photo/U.S. ___ BOSTON PHILADELPHIA (CBS/AP) - A trial is getting under way in federal court to determine the dollar amount two vessel operators may have to pay following a collision of a tugboat-guided barge and a sightseeing boat two years ago in Philadelphia that left two Hungarian students dead. Philadelphia Duck Boat Overturns; Dozens Rescued. based tour operator and licensor said "due . Two people, a 16-year-old girl and a 20-year-old-man, were missing Wednesday evening, officials said, but search and rescue efforts were still under way. Hahnemann University Hospital spokeswoman Coleen Cannon said 10 people were taken there, but two refused treatment. All rights reserved, Have a blast: Your guide to July 4th weekend fireworks shows, Wawa Welcome America Day 13: A big block party, patriotic music and fireworks, Get the latest from NBCPhiladelphia.com anytime, anywhere, Delco park basketball game ends with 3 children shot, Jersey Shore towns say NJ's pot law handcuffs police, emboldens rowdy teens, Moms for Liberty gathering in Philly draws top GOP politicians, protests: Here's what to know, Should you keep ketchup in the fridge? I feel that it wasn't Ride The Ducks' fault but they got the short end of the stick.". July 7: A duck boat crew member is pulled from the Delaware River after a tourist boat carrying 37 people overturned when a barge hit it. At least five people in life vests could be seen on TV news footage being pulled from the water. July 8: Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, center, consoles two Hungarian teachers, left and right, who survived a duck boat crash on Wednesday, and an American woman, center top, who served as a host for a Hungarian student group, as they view the site where two of their students went missing on the Delaware River in Philadelphia. He then saw police boats plucking tourists from the water. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Newly released video of the 2010 deadly duck boat accident along the Delaware River that killed two passengers shows one of the ship's crew members jumping off the vessel seconds before it crashed . "We must find a way to change the culture of distraction that we see across transportation because frankly it is just going to get worse in the coming years.". This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Navy, Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tim Miller. PHILADELPHIA An amphibious sightseeing boat that stalled in the Delaware River was knocked over by an oncoming barge Wednesday, spilling 37 people overboard and leaving two passengers unaccounted for after a frantic rescue effort. July 9: Members of a salvage operation are seen as they work to bring up an amphibious craft from the Delaware River in Philadelphia. Our thoughts and prayers are with our Philadelphia tour guests, crew members and their families. "It's remarkable that we're only looking for two people," police Deputy Commissioner Richard Ross said. All Rights Reserved. Witnesses told investigators that some passengers tried frantically to get the attention of the approaching barge but were forced to jump into the river as the barge hit the boat. July 7: In this photo released by CBS3 (KYW-TV) in Philadelphia, a barge approaches a stalled duck boat on the Delaware River in Philadelphia. "I whirled around as the barge began to run over the duck boat," said Larry Waxmunski, a guard for the Delaware River Waterfront Corp. "After the barge hit it it almost looked like slow motion the duck boat began to turn over.". The special forces officers used small ZODIAK boats to zip through the area and pluck people from the water. Federal investigators say the tug pilot was on his cell phone just before the crash. Gatlin said the duck boats are not allowed to go more than 100 yards out into the river. [14] In 1999, a Duck Boat took on water and sank in Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, killing 13 of the 20 people on board. We will continue to work with the authorities in the recovery efforts., The company said its six-wheeled vehicle, capable of traveling on land and water, was based on the classic World War II DUKW amphibious design.. Ride The Ducks photo. The collision sent all 37 people aboard the smaller amphibious sightseeing boat overboard. We don't have any Christmas. Before the wrongful death lawsuit may proceed, however, a judge must decide whether a limit should be set on the financial liability of the two boat owners. CHINATOWN (WPVI) -- A female tourist that was struck and killed by a 'Ride the Ducks' boat vehicle in Philadelphia's Chinatown section has been identified. Witnesses said many passengers were wearing life vests as rescuers plucked them from the water. A stalled duck boat collided with a barge on the Delaware River in Philadelphia July 7. (Message and data rates may apply. ", Click Here to Sign Up for Breaking News and Investigation Alerts From The Brian Ross Investigative Unit. We don't have anything anymore," said Szabolcs Prem's mother, Maria, through a translator. "We are still actively searching for two people," Kneen said. Ten passengers on the duck boat were transported to Hahnemann University Hospital, but two refused treatment. PHILADELPHIA (AP)-- Amphibious duck boat tours resumed Thursday on the Delaware River in Philadelphia nine months after a deadly . Two people died and 26 were injured when a Ride the Ducks of Philadelphia tour vehicle sank July 7, 2010, in the Delaware River in Philadelphia. Robert J. Mongeluzzi, the lawyerwho represented the families of all three victims, had been vocal in his opposition to the boats. There were 37 people on the so-called "duck boat," an amphibious vehicle, when it collided with the passing barge at about 2:30 p.m. near Penn's Landing, Coast Guard Officer Crystal Kneen said. It happened around 5:20 p.m. Friday. Associated Press writers JoAnn Loviglio, Kathy Matheson, Patrick Walters and Ron Todt contributed to this report. As darkness fell and the search was halted for the night, at least two passengers were still unaccounted for. 9 family members among 17 dead in duck boat disaster. Accident The accident occurred shortly after 7 p.m. Central Daylight Time on July 19, 2018, as a line of severe thunderstorms approached the Branson area. "You can build another ship. "We were not even halfway over when they said there was somebody overboard and we were going to get them," Ronna said. The National Transportation Safety Board was investigating. Karnicki's family sued the boat's operator and manufacturer, as well as the city, citing the vehicle's blind spots, distracted driving and inadequate crossing signals. A Philadelphia police marine unit helped pluck some of the survivors from the water, as did a ferry boat crossing the river and . Attorneys for the plaintiffs were expected to argue that was not the case, and errors by the duck boat pilot and the tug pilot, as well as insufficient training procedures and inadequate safety policies of their respective employers, all were factors in the crash. Two people were reportedly missing after a tourist duck boat accident in Philadelphia which resulted in dozens of those on the craft being dumped into the Delaware River. The Ride the Ducks franchise, which is headquartered where the Missouri tragedy took place, began operating in Philadelphia in 2003. They were calmly floating in the river. According to the Ride the Ducks website, the vehicle is equipped with life jackets for adults and children passengers. "The ducks are dangerous," he said. Contact Us / Closed Captioning Information, Public File for KYW-TV / CBS Philadelphia. Twenty-six passengers were on board along with two crew members. Ride The Ducks Philadelphia abruptly announced Tuesday it has suspended its amphibious tour boat operation on the Delaware River and city streets, citing surging insurance costs as it faces a second fatal accident lawsuit. 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. He survived the collision, but his arm, leg and pelvis were all crushed after he became stuck under the. Passengers board the duck boats at the Independence Mall and are driven on a tour of Old City. >> READ MORE:Duck boats have a history of fatalities. The crash of between a tugboat and a duck boat in 2010 led to the death of two Hungarian tourists. PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Amphibious duck boat tours resumed Thursday on the Delaware River in Philadelphia nine months after a deadly collision with a tugboat-steered barge forced them from the water. "Fortunately, you began to see the life vests popping up almost immediately," Waxmunski said. Captain Gatlin said there had clearly been certain areas that were below the sightline of the tugboat operator. ( See news clip) He was a lead counsel in the Delaware River Pier 34 catastrophe that killed three young women and resulted in dozens of injuries. May 8, 2015: A duck boat struck and killed 68-year-old Elizabeth Karnicki of Beaumont, Texas, as she crossed a busy Philadelphia street at rush hour. The five-member safety board voted to adopt the findings, probable cause, and safety recommendations from the final report which was presented by NTSB investigators today. Police divers located the boat using sonar several hours after it sank in murky water 40 to 50 feet deep. New York resident Matthew Devlin, 35, was using his tugboat to steer a 250-foot barge along the river on July 7, 2010 when the barge collided with a much smaller "duck boat," allegedly because Devlin had "for an extended period of time prior to the collision, [been] distracted by his use of a cell phone and laptop computer," according to charging documents. In October 2016, the company announced it would "indefinitely" suspend operations in Philly due, in part, to a 330 percent increase in insurance premiums, the Inquirer reported. / CBS Philadelphia. All rights reserved. A K-Sea spokesman did not respond to a message seeking comment. "We don't really have any more holidays. ; Stone Mountain, Ga.; and the Cincinnati area.
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