"There is no doubt that Dora and Szeb, on their first trip to America, thought they were safe when they boarded the duck boat. Video: Ill fated duck boat lifted from water In a statement released to the media, Herschend pointed to the tugboat's failure to heed repeated radio calls alerting it to the disabled vessel in its path.Ī lawsuit filed on behalf of the students' parents claims, among other things, that duck boats are inherently unsafe. The company is working out details with the U.S. Ride the Ducks has suspended its Philadelphia operation since the accident, but company President Chris Herschend said he expected tours to resume soon. Ten other passengers suffered minor injuries, according to a National Transportation Safety Board initial report released September 10. Two student tourists from Hungary, Dora Schwendtner, 16, and Szabolcs Prem, 20, drowned. On July 7, a 250-foot sludge barge pushed by a tugboat overran a disabled 33-foot Ride the Ducks tour boat, plunging the amphibious vessel with its 35 passengers and two crew members under the surface of the Delaware River in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (CNN) - A wrongful death lawsuit filed in the aftermath of a July boat accident questions the safety of amphibious tour vessels, but the so-called duck boats' record indicates just two fatal accidents in more than 50 years of service. Coast Guard disregarded NTSB recommendations after 1999 tragedy.2 students killed in Philadelphia crash in July 13 drowned in 1999 sinking in Arkansas.Records show only two fatal accidents involving amphibious tour boats.NTSB warned in 2002 that canopies on excursion vessels could trap passengers.Teague pleaded guilty to murder July 1 and was sentenced a day later to 99 years in prison, Gilleland said.Įllis has a previous conviction in 1984 for aggravated assault, he said. Jones, who had been struck with a pickax, later died at University Medical Center Brackenridge in Austin.Įllis and Bryan Teague had gone to the home because McMarion owed Ellis money, Gilleland said.ĭuring an altercation, Ellis beat McMarion with an aluminum pipe, Gilleland said, and Teague struck Jones with a pickax. 20, 2008, and found McMarion, 43, and Larry Jones, 49, injured, officials have said. Sheriff's deputies were called to an assault at a home in the 300 block of FM 1209 at 10:30 p.m. He said he had been approached by Ride the Ducks several years ago to open a franchise but turned down the company.īastrop County resident Charles Ellis pleaded guilty Friday to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in the 2008 beating of William McMarion at a home in western Bastrop County, an assistant district attorney said.Įllis was sentenced to 15 years in prison, Greg Gilleland said. "I'm very confident in our vehicles," he said, and described them as "unsinkable." And he said the new diesel-powered Hydra-Terras are unlikely to stall like the Philadelphia boats, which contributed to the crash. Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board. ![]() He said the Hydra-Terras are certified by the U.S. Mahler says other duck boats are often retrofitted World War II amphibious vehicles his two duck boats date to 2007, when he got rid of his three old duck boats and bought Hydra-Terras. ![]() But Austin Duck Adventures, which is independently owned by Paul Mahler, will continue to operate.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |