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We have discussed the tragic duck boat accident that caused the death of two people on the Delaware River just over a year ago several times on this blog.
First, we discussed how the National Transportation Safety Board revealed that the accident was caused by a tug boat operator who was distracted by his cell phone and laptop. Then, we discussed how the Philadelphia duck boat company Ride the Ducks remained closed on July 7 of this year in remembrance of the tragedy.
Today we report that the tug boat operator pleaded guilty this week to one count of criminal misconduct for his role in the 2010 accident. The 35-year-old was released on $10,000 bail, and could face a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years’ probation and a fine of up to $250,000.
The tug boat driver, who is said to have been very remorseful at the court appearance, will be sentenced by a United States District Court judge on November 11. The tearful man reportedly admitted that he was distracted at the time of the accident because of complications with his 5-year-old son’s routine eye surgery.
The fatal accident occurred 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 engine problems. The duck boat quickly sank in 55 feet of water, and two Hungarian tourists drowned.
The NTSB concluded that the tug boat operator had been distracted and was steering from the lower wheelhouse instead of up above where he was supposed to stand and could see better.
Additionally, the NTSB also concluded that a deck hand on the duck boat was also distracted at the time of the accident by texting, and the duck boat’s crew failed to secure the surge-tank pressure cap, which is what led to the duck boat overheating and becoming stranded in the first place.
Both the tug boat company and the duck boat company have been served with wrongful death lawsuit brought by the families of the tourists who were killed. In the civil lawsuit, which is separate from the criminal case, a jury will decide how much the families should be awarded in damages.
Source: Reuters, “Tugboat pilot pleads guilty in fatal Ride the Duck crash,” Dave Warner, Aug. 1, 2011.