In July of last year, a barge being towed by a tugboat collided with a duck boat, an amphibious vehicle owned by Ride the Ducks International, on the Delaware River. Thirty-five passengers and two crewmembers from the sight-seeing duck boat were dumped into the water. After the waters calmed, two Hungarian students were dead and 10 others injured.

The National Transportation Safety Patrol Board (NTSB) reviewed the cause of this boating accident and released its findings on Tuesday, June 21. The NTSB blames the tugboat’s navigator, who made and received 21 calls during the two hours he was behind the wheel. He was also reportedly using a company laptop for personal use, which violates the company’s policy.

However, the duck boat was not without blame. Pictures revealed a deckhand on the boat sending a text message just one minute before the crash. The NTSB also accused Ride the Ducks for not keeping their craft properly maintained. According to the report, the crew failed to keep the duck boat’s radiator cap in place and anchored the stalled craft in the middle of an active navigation channel.

The tugboat navigator’s distraction paired with the duck boat crew’s lack of foresight led to the death and injury of many of its passengers. Families of those affected were shocked by the findings, and many are filing lawsuits against the boating companies.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a boating accident, please contact an experienced boating accident lawyer through the Accident Lawyers Network today.

Labels: boating accidents