The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) completed its investigation into the deadly Ride the Ducks accident that killed two Hungarian tourists by finding fault with both the tug boat operator that struck the duck boat as well as the operators of the duck boat.
In July 2010, a tugboat pushed a barge into a stalled duck boat in the middle of the Delaware River. As the vessels collided, many of the 35 duck boat passengers were thrown into the river. Two Hungarian tourists drowned and many others were injured.
In its report, the NTSB cited the probable cause of the accident to be the tugboat operator's failure to maintain a proper lookout, reports Reuters. The tugboat operator was in the lower wheelhouse and was allegedly talking on his cell phone and using his laptop around the time of the accident.
In addition, Reuters reports that the NTSB found the duck boat operators at fault for failing to properly maintain the boat, which led to the stall, as well as their decision to anchor the boat in the busy navigation channel.
The families of the Hungarian victims have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against both Ride the Ducks and the operators of the tug boat alleging negligence.
Generally, in a negligence suit, the party that acted carelessly or in an unreasonable manner causing the injury or death of another will be held responsible. When two parties both act carelessly and contribute to an accident, both parties can similarly be held responsible.
In the wake of the Ride the Ducks accident, the families of the victims can find some solace in knowing that the NTSB's findings support their claims that both the tugboat operator and the Ride the Ducks operators acted carelessly.
Related Resources:
- Find a Philadelphia Personal Injury Attorney (FindLaw)
- NTSB: 'Deadliness of distraction' at heart of Ducks tragedy (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
- Barge and Tour Boat Collide in Philadelphia (FindLaw's Injured Blog)
- Ride The Ducks: Are Their Boats Safe? (FindLaw's Philadelphia Personal Injury Law Blog)
- Duck Boat Captain Gary Fox Files Injury Lawsuit (FindLaw's Philadelphia Personal Injury Law Blog)
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