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Ntsb Fatal Duck Boat Accident Caused By Distracted Operator

Today, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the National Transportation Safety Board found that a tug boat operator distracted by his cell phone and laptop was responsible for the duck boat accident that caused the death of two people on the Delaware River last July.

The accident occurred when the tug boat distracted operator guided his tug boat pull a 250-foot barge into a Ride the Ducks tourist boat that had become stranded on the river. The tug boat first mate was cited for being distracted and steering from the lower wheelhouse where he could not see as well.

Reportedly, a deck hand on the duck boat was also distracted at the time of the accident as records indicate that he was texting on his cell phone in the minutes leading up to the accident. Both companies had rules in place forbidding use of electronic devices while working.

However, the duck boat company and tug boat company could still both be held vicariously liable for the negligent actions of their employees that contributed to the accident. The families of the two people killed and four other surviving passengers have retained a lawyer and will likely sue for damages.

“When people’s lives are in your hands, whether you’re piloting a tug, conducting a train, flying a 757, or even driving home this evening, you take responsibility by giving your full attention to the safety-critical task at hand,” the chairwoman of the safety board said. “There is simply no conversation or action that is important enough to risk your life or the lives of others.”

The chairwoman said that there have been far too many accidents during recent times caused by operators who are distracted. “This accident is not just about one individual’s actions, but about a new and highly troubling societal norm,” she said.

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, “NTSB blames distracted operators in Ride the Ducks accident,” Paul Nussbaum, 6/22/2011.