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Missouri: 17 people dead after tourist boat capsizes on Table Rock Lake Survivor of Missouri boat disaster says passengers told not to put on life jackets
(about 11 hours later)
Seventeen people, including children, have died after an amphibious boat carrying tourists capsized and sank on a lake during a thunderstorm in south-west Missouri. An Indiana woman who lost nine members of her family, including her children and husband, when an amphibious boat carrying tourists capsized and sank on a lake during a thunderstorm said on television that the captain of the vessel told passengers not to put on life jackets.
The Ride the Ducks boat sank on Table Rock Lake in Branson on Thursday evening. The Ride the Ducks boat sank on Table Rock Lake in Branson, south-west Missouri, on Thursday evening.
Sgt Jason Pace of Missouri highway patrol said 14 people survived, and that seven of them were injured. Tia Coleman told an Indianapolis TV station that she and her nephew were the only survivors from 11 members of their family who were on the amphibious vehicle when it sank.
Patrol divers found six more bodies early on Friday, increasing the death toll from 11 to 17. All of those on board who had been missing have now been accounted for. “I lost all my children, I lost my husband, I lost my mother in law, I lost my father in law, I lost my uncle, I lost my sister in law – she was my sister – and I lost my nephew. I’m OK, but this is really hard,” Coleman told Fox 59 from her hospital bed in Branson.
A spokeswoman for the Cox medical center in Branson said four adults and three children arrived at the hospital shortly after the incident. Two adults are in critical condition and the others were treated for minor injuries, Brandei Clifton said. She said her husband would “want the world to know” that when they were in the water the captain of the vehicle told them not to put their life jackets on, an action she believed had cost lives.
“The captain told us ‘Don’t worry about grabbing the life jackets, you won’t need them,’ so nobody grabbed them because we listened to the captain and he told us to stay seated,” Coleman said. “However in doing that, when it was time to grab them it was too late. I believe that a lot of people could have been spared.”
A spokeswoman for the Cox medical center in Branson said four adults and three children arrived at the hospital shortly after the incident. Two adults were in critical condition and the others were treated for minor injuries, Brandei Clifton said.
Sheriff Doug Rader of Stone county said stormy weather probably made the boat capsize. Another duck boat on the lake made it safely back to shore.Sheriff Doug Rader of Stone county said stormy weather probably made the boat capsize. Another duck boat on the lake made it safely back to shore.
Rader said during a news conference on Friday that he believes the boat sank in 40ft (12m) of water and rolled into 80ft of water. He says the Missouri state highway patrol divers have located the vessel, which is on its wheels in Table Rock Lake. Authorities plan to recover the boat later on Friday. Rader said during a news conference on Friday that he believed the boat sank in 40ft (12m) of water and rolled into 80ft of water.
Rader said an off-duty sheriff’s deputy working security helped rescue people.Rader said an off-duty sheriff’s deputy working security helped rescue people.
He said the driver of the Ride the Ducks boat died but that the captain survived. He said the driver of the Ride the Ducks boat died but the captain survived.
Steve Lindenberg, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Springfield, Missouri, said the agency issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the Branson area on Thursday evening. Lindenberg said winds reached speeds of more than 60mph (100km/h). “It’s a warning telling people to take shelter,” he said.Steve Lindenberg, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Springfield, Missouri, said the agency issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the Branson area on Thursday evening. Lindenberg said winds reached speeds of more than 60mph (100km/h). “It’s a warning telling people to take shelter,” he said.
“There’s nothing to slow down winds in an open area.”“There’s nothing to slow down winds in an open area.”
Suzanne Smagala with Ripley Entertainment, which owns Ride the Ducks in Branson, said the company was assisting authorities with the rescue effort. Smagala added this was the Branson tour’s only accident in more than 40 years of operation.Suzanne Smagala with Ripley Entertainment, which owns Ride the Ducks in Branson, said the company was assisting authorities with the rescue effort. Smagala added this was the Branson tour’s only accident in more than 40 years of operation.
Shocking video believed to be of the boat sinking was posted on YouTube, showing the craft fighting strong wind and high waves, before its nose goes under the water line. Video believed to be of the boat sinking was posted on YouTube showing the craft fighting strong wind and high waves before its nose goes under the water line.
Donald Trump said his “deepest sympathies” were with those affected in the “terrible boat accident”. “Such a tragedy, such a great loss,” he tweeted. Donald Trump said on Twitter that his “deepest sympathies” were with those affected in the “terrible boat accident”. “Such a tragedy, such a great loss.”
Branson is about 200 miles (320km) south-east of Kansas City and is a popular vacation spot for families and other tourists, with entertainment ranging from theme parks to live music. A tornado that bounced through downtown Branson in 2012 destroyed dozens of buildings and injured about three dozen people, but killed no one. Branson is about 200 miles (320km) south-east of Kansas City and is a popular vacation spot for families and other tourists, with entertainment ranging from theme parks to live music. A tornado that went through downtown Branson in 2012 destroyed dozens of buildings and injured about three dozen people, but killed no one.
Duck boats, which can travel on land and in water, have been involved in other deadly incidents in the past. Five college students were killed in 2015 in Seattle when a duck boat collided with a bus, and 13 people died in 1999 when a duck boat sank near Hot Springs, Arkansas.Duck boats, which can travel on land and in water, have been involved in other deadly incidents in the past. Five college students were killed in 2015 in Seattle when a duck boat collided with a bus, and 13 people died in 1999 when a duck boat sank near Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Safety advocates have sought improvements since the Arkansas deaths. Critics argued that part of the problem is that too many agencies regulate the boats with varying safety requirements.Safety advocates have sought improvements since the Arkansas deaths. Critics argued that part of the problem is that too many agencies regulate the boats with varying safety requirements.
Duck boats were originally used by the US military in the second world war to transport troops and supplies, and later were modified for use as sightseeing vehicles.Duck boats were originally used by the US military in the second world war to transport troops and supplies, and later were modified for use as sightseeing vehicles.
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