Cherry Injury Law RSS Feed
Early this month we reported that the tug boat operator involved in the fatal duck boat accident on the Delaware River in 2010 pleaded guilty to one count of criminal misconduct, and could face 10 years in prison.
The accident caused the death of two people when the tug boat operator led a 250-foot barge into a Ride the Ducks tourist boat that had become stranded on the river because of what was thought to be engine problems. The collision caused the boat to sink in 55 feet of water, and two Hungarian tourists drowned
After an investigation, the National Transportation Safety Board attributed the accident’s cause to the tug boat operator, who was distracted by his cell phone and laptop. But workers on the Ride the Ducks boat were also cited for distraction and for not properly executing the company’s safety procedures.
As a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the families of the victims against both the tug boat company and the duck boat company unfolds, the National Transportation Safety Board recommended this week that Ride the Ducks International conduct a review of its safety program and make sure that its employees are trained in on emergency procedures.
Specifically, the National Transportation Safety Board found that the captain of the duck boat failed to tell the duck boat passengers to put on life jackets until just before the vessel was hit by the barge.
Additionally, the duck boat captain and the company was cited for failing to let the Coast Guard know that the boat was thought to be having engine trouble. Finally, a worker on the duck boat was cited for texting and using his cell phone while he was supposed to be acting as a lookout, the National Transportation Safety Board found.
“If a more effective safety culture existed at the Ride the Ducks Philadelphia operation, these and other noted systemic failures to properly execute company safety procedures may have been detected,” the National Transportation Safety Board said.
No doubt, these findings will be important evidence used in the wrongful death lawsuit.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, “Federal officials recommend a safety review for Ride the Ducks,” Troy Graham, Aug. 30, 2011.