Sadly, a duck tour boat swerved into oncoming traffic and struck a charter bus on September 24, killing five people and injuring dozens of others in Seattle.
According to the Associated Press, the amphibious vehicle may not have had an axle repair that was recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in 2013. The boat was operated by Ride the Ducks of Seattle, which refurbished it in 2005, prior to the NTSB’s warning about potential axle failure involving similar vessels.
The duck boat’s left tire allegedly locked up prior to it veering into oncoming traffic and hitting the bus. Investigators said that they found the axle sheared off, but they could not say whether it broke before or after the collision.
Ride the Ducks of Seattle told the AP that it was cooperating with an investigation. As of last week, 13 people remained at area hospitals for injury treatment. More than 50 people in total were injured. Similar amphibious vehicle tours, which operate on land and in the water, are offered around the country, including in Philadelphia, Austin, Texas, Boston and Miami, according to the AP.
The boat involved in the crash was designed using an Army surplus vehicle that was originally built in 1945, and featured a refurbished engine and chassis from 2005. Investigators are trying to determine if the company had knowledge about axle issues prior to the crash. The company has allegedly turned over training records and maintenance documents to authorities.
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This accident is an unfortunate reminder that watercraft can cause crashes both on-and-off land. Sometimes, accidents can occur when vessels are not properly maintained, or hitches or trailers transporting them break. In this case, the vessel itself may have suffered from mechanical problems.
If you have been injured in an accident involving a boat or another form of watercraft, talk to our nationwide maritime attorneys about how to move forward with a legal claim. Visit our verdicts and settlement page to read more about how we have successfully litigated on the behalf of victims.
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