Posted on 07/19/2018 10:42:03 PM PDT by Mozilla
BRANSON — Eleven people, including at least one child, are dead after an amphibious duck boat capsized Thursday evening on Table Rock Lake.
At least seven other passengers were injured, including one in serious condition.
Stone County Sheriff Doug Rader updated the casualty information just after 11 p.m. Thursday. The Ride the Ducks tourist boat sank near the Showboat Branson Belle with a reported 31 people on board.
Rader said emergency personnel were still searching for at least five people.
CoxHealth said in a statement victims were being treated at Cox Branson. Spokeswoman Kaitlyn McConnell said the patients were a mix of adults and children. She said the hospital routinely practices for emergency events like this and Thursday night was an all-hands-on-deck situation.
(Excerpt) Read more at ky3.com ...
Oh how terrible. I had not seen any local news.
Yeah it is a terrible situation. Only media I found was breaking news feeds on Youtube.
https://youtu.be/9DV3a3g-8EM
https://youtu.be/4eGRaDaR6dA
Aw crud. Rode the Duck first and only time last year.
With the canopy I could see how it is hard to get out. And the lifejackets are not on, but above your head.
Stunning.
[Showboat Branson Belle]
Ya turn around on the lake not too far but not too close to that showboat. Usually by that time they’re letting a kid steer. Wonder if too many got to the wrong side or if it was turned at the wrong time with a wave.
Very very sad. This is a part of the country I’ve never been but am curious about. Prayers for their loved ones and those still in hospital.
It is a sad situation.
I just now watched a video shot from the Branson Belle - it looked like the poor Duck Boat was in the ocean, the waves were so high! Straight line winds. They were out on the water with an active T-storm warning, as far as I can tell. In the area, I think we may have had winds in some places as high as 80 mph.
So sad.
One video reports winds up to 90mph during storm.
I am absolutely sick to my stomach.
It just blows me away.
Like I just told Mozilla, I was starboard aft last year about 3/4 back. I could see if she capsized that you’d be trapped beneath the bottom of the boat, the seats and the canopy (which is where the life vests are racked above your head).
It was hot when I rode last year (August? can’t remember) and there were a LOT of people at the ride base. After the ride I walked around and looked at the display.
Lots of weather there, too. It’s not all that far from where the high winds are from the Gulf air meeting the air from the north - I don’t know if it’s officially tornado alley but there was a tornado when I was there earlier last year or the year before. I can’t remember which trip. I’ve been there every year, at least once, for the past 4-5 years now. Was there just about 2.5 - 3 months ago.
Lots of hills. Very pretty in the fall. Lots of winding roads but mostly undivided. 76 is the main drag down the Branson tourist trap and is mostly 2 lane except right off the main North-South freeway. 76 always backs up with traffic. There are other, newer roads, especially on the North side of 76 that let you bypass all that to get from one end to the other (or to the middle).
A lot of things are overpriced, as usual. But if you’re careful, cheap hotels during the off season. Under $50/night in several places. It’s not the Ritz Carlton for sure, though.
I know there have been other Duck Boat tragedies; this may be the final blow. It’s a shame. I have never been on one.
They had one of those big, two-decker pontoon party boats capsize in a similar way on Lake Travis near Austin, TX: Everyone moved to the railing on one side to look at who was sunbathing in Hippie Hollow—a nude beach no right mind would want to look at. Fortunately, I don’t think any lives were lost.
There were 2 Duck Boats out, and the other made it to shore. Makes me wonder if it was captain experience, or luck.
Can you say if the tragedies are the result of a poor design for the duck boat or unsafe acts by the operators?
When you’re out near the showboat it’s often kids piloting.
Seems like 3-5 kids took turn steering our boat. I volunteered to do it but backed off so the kids could all take turns (one or two more wanted to do it).
It was a Sunny day when I rode it; early afternoon. Still, the water was a little choppy so I guess there was a little wind.
These ducks are dangerous. It seems every year I hear of one drowning.
The boat goes out and does basically a 180 turn but not too tightly. At that point you’re the furthest from the shore where you entered and maybe 200-300 feet from the showboat.
As best I can recall.
I like riding the train. Have done it 4(?) times I think. Went south into Arkansas most of the times. On one occasion it went north, but that’s rare.
The southern trip has the most to look at. Of course I had to see what the bathroom was like. It was hard to stand up to wash my hands. She was really rocking at that point. I had to grab the sink 2-3 times.
This is such terrible news. I’m just in disbelief almost.
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