17 killed in Missouri duck boat sinking ranged in age from 1 to 70, sheriff says
Hundreds at vigils mourn victims of Missouri boat accident
Hundreds at vigils mourn victims of Missouri boat accident
Hundreds at vigils mourn victims of Missouri boat accident
A boat carrying tourists on a Missouri lake capsized in rough waters and sank Thursday night, killing 17 people, officials said.
Officials said six bodies were pulled from the Table Rock Lake in Branson Friday morning, bringing the total number of fatalities to 17, including nine members of the same family, according to Missouri Gov. Mike Parson.
The grief-stricken community hosted two separate vigils Friday night. In one, about 300 people gathered in the parking lot of Ride the Ducks of Branson and sang "Amazing Grace." Mourners at a church sang the same words.
"Even though we may not know any of them it doesn't matter," said Tammy Miesner, 54, of Branson. "It's a part of our lives to be there for each other."
State and federal investigators were trying to determine what sent the vessel known as a duck boat to its demise. An initial assessment blamed thunderstorms and winds that approached hurricane strength, but it wasn't clear why the amphibious vehicle even ventured out into the water.
Stone County Sheriff Doug Rader said those who died ranged in age from 1 to 70.
The Stone County Sheriff's Office in Missouri has released the names of the 17 people who died.
The sheriff reported the names as follows:
William Asher, 69, from Missouri.
Janice Bright, 65, from Missouri.
William Bright, 65, from Missouri.
Angela Coleman, 45, from Indiana.
Arya Coleman, 1, from Indiana.
Belinda Coleman, 69, from Indiana.
Ervin Coleman, 76, from Indiana.
Evan Coleman, 7, from Indiana.
Glenn Coleman, 40, from Indiana.
Horace Coleman, 70, from Indiana.
Maxwell Coleman, 2, from Indiana.
Reece Coleman, 9, from Indiana.
Leslie Dennison, 64, from Illinois.
Rosemarie Hamann, 68, from Missouri.
Lance Smith, 15, from Arkansas.
Steve Smith, 53, from Arkansas.
Bob Williams, 73, from Missouri.
Six people were hospitalized.
Terrifying video from someone aboard another boat shows the rough waters.
Brandei Clifton, spokeswoman for the Cox Medical Center Branson, said four adults and three children arrived at the hospital shortly after the incident. Two adults are in critical condition and the others were treated for minor injuries, Clifton said. Clifton said doctors are confident about their long-term prognosis.
A total of 14 people survived.
Suzanne Smagala, with Ripley Entertainment, which owns Ride the Ducks in Branson, said the company was assisting authorities with the rescue effort. Smagala added this was the Branson tour’s first accident in more than 40 years of operation.
She shared a brief statement Friday morning “We are deeply saddened by the tragic accident that occurred this evening at Ride The Ducks Branson. This incident has deeply affected all of us. We will continue to do all we can to assist the families who were involved and the authorities as they continue with the search and rescue."
Branson is about 200 miles southeast of Kansas City and is a popular vacation spot for families and other tourists looking for entertainment ranging from theme parks to live music.
Duck boats, known for their ability to travel on land and in water, have been involved in other deadly incidents in the past. One such incident in 2015 in Seattle resulted in five college students dying when a boat collided with a bus, and one in 1999 that left 13 people dead after the boat sank near Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Safety advocates have sought improvements to the boats since the Arkansas incident. Critics argued that part of the problem is numerous agencies regulate the boats with varying safety requirements.
Duck boats were originally used by the U.S. military in World War II to transport troops and supplies, and later were modified for use as sightseeing vehicles.