Ride the Duck service suspended after fatal accident

Federal officials are investigating a deadly crash last week between an amphibious tour vehicle and a charter bus carrying global college students in Seattle.

The Utilities and Transportation Commission met in an emergency session Monday to keep the converted military vehicles off the streets pending inspections and a review of driver records.

It’s unclear if the company that owns the vehicle is Ride the Ducks of Seattle. They say they know the duck boat’s left front axle was sheared off, though it wasn’t clear if the axle had broken before or after the collision.

Four students – from Austria, China, Indonesia and Japan – died at the scene and a few 50 were injured, 15 of them seriously.

Its other affiliates and licensees – in Philadelphia; Stone Mountain Park, Ga.; Branson, Mo.; and Newport, Ky. – had all complied, the company said. “We are working to understand what happened, and have completely opened our operations to NTSB investigators”, he said.

Today, UTC Chairman David Danner said, “Our hearts go out to the families of all the victims, and we commend the first responders and medical professionals who came to the victims’ aid”.

At least 16 people had been killed in accidents involving duck boats prior to last week’s tragedy.

Results of the federal probe are not expected for a year, he said.

In anticipation of the transfer, Brian Tracey, proprietor of Ride the Ducks of Seattle, stated Sunday night time that he was in “full…”

The U.S. Army-surplus vehicle that crashed was built in 1945 and refurbished in 2005, Weener said, adding there were about 100 similar trucks in service nationwide. It is unknown if Seattle’s Ride the Ducks operation was aware of the warning, according to KING 5. In 2005, it was refurbished with a General Motors engine and chassis.

The NTSB says the duck at the center of the investigation never got that recommended fix.

Several duck tour companies did not immediately respond for requests for information about the warning and whether they had made repairs. Tour companies in Boston and Miami said Monday that their vehicles are different from Seattle’s and were not subject to the 2013 service bulletin.