17 dead after duck boat capsizes on Table Rock Lake

[Dartgod]

This is awful. So sad...


NEAR BRANSON, Mo. -- The Stone County Sheriff confirms eight fatalities involved in a duck boat capsizing on Table Rock Lake Thursday.

Emergency crews responded to the incident shortly after 7 p.m. after a severe line of thunderstorms rolled through the area.

Sheriff Doug Rader reports the boat had 31 people on board. He tells KY3 News four of those have been transported to a hospital. Some of the 31 on board include children. Divers are on the scene searching for more possible victims. The sheriff says he does not know how many on the boat are missing. The sheriff is asking for any family missing someone to go to Branson City Hall. It remains a rescue and recovery mission.


http://www.ky3.com/content/news/Emer...488679201.html

[Pogue]

Why was the captain going against the wind? Makes zero sense to me.

[mikeyis4dcats.]

Originally Posted by Pogue

Why was the captain going against the wind? Makes zero sense to me.

because they were close to the dock, and that was the way the wind was blowing. They couldn't run cross wind otherwise they have a much higher risk of capsizing.

[Molitoth]

Originally Posted by Pogue

Why was the captain going against the wind? Makes zero sense to me.

Woulda, coulda, shoulda,... but yeah, it would have made more sense for him to go with the wind to the nearest land and just crash into someones dock.

[mikeyis4dcats.]

you can see the Belle here, and I bet that parking lot just to the north is where the Ducks launch, you can see a boat ramp through the trees.


https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sh...!4d-93.3172096

[vailpass]

Good luck with the insurance rates on those death traps going forward.

[cooper barrett]

Originally Posted by Flying High D

Wouldn’t something be signed before getting a n relieving the company of any liability? Either that or there is signs, printed on the back of the ticket etc.

Those do not relieve them of liability for their actions or lack of.

The Branson Ducks will be liquidated (sold to Pattinson's brother in law.) and the insurance company will settle within the policy limitations unless they can prove negligence of the individual who was overseeing the operation or the driver and then they can go for jail time.

The Company's owner stated on Nation TV that "the boats should not have been in the water..." stating the experience of the pilot and lack of warning for the storm cell that caused the boats sinking.

[Prison Bitch]

There's no $$$ to sue

A company in Branson bought this "local chapter" of ducks

Maybe insurance pays out? But I doubt this small operation has a ton of coverage

[seaofred]

Originally Posted by mikeyis4dcats.

you can see the Belle here, and I bet that parking lot just to the north is where the Ducks launch, you can see a boat ramp through the trees.


https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sh...!4d-93.3172096

I believe that is correct. That is the ramp they enter and exit the lake. Looks like when the warning was issued they did head back towards the ramp, but must have been far enough away they didn't make it back before the storm hit.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by Pogue

Why was the captain going against the wind? Makes zero sense to me.

That's the best bet to keep the boat upright. Going parallel to the waves will quickly capsize the boat.

[Skyy God]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

There's no $$$ to sue

A company in Branson bought this "local chapter" of ducks

Maybe insurance pays out? But I doubt this small operation has a ton of coverage

1) They absolutely have liability insurance

2) Herschends are minority owners

[thebrad84]

Originally Posted by Molitoth

Woulda, coulda, shoulda,... but yeah, it would have made more sense for him to go with the wind to the nearest land and just crash into someones dock.

Hindsight is always 20/20. He had every reason to initially believe the best move was to "ride the storm out" and not slam in to the docks/shore and throw passengers around. The possibility of capsizing likely didn't even cross his mind until that last minute or two, at which point they were already ****ed. Only thing at that point that could have saved lives is his announcement to abandon ship.

[luv]

Originally Posted by Cave Johnson

You couldn’t drag me into one (or to Branson, for that matter).

I'm guessing you live nearby. People far enough away either go for fun or curiosity. People who live nearby just steer clear...lol.

[Skyy God]

Originally Posted by cooper barrett

Those do not relieve them of liability for their actions or lack of.

The Branson Ducks will be liquidated (sold to Pattinson's brother in law.) and the insurance company will settle within the policy limitations unless they can prove negligence of the individual who was overseeing the operation or the driver and then they can go for jail time.

The Company's owner stated on Nation TV that "the boats should not have been in the water..." stating the experience of the pilot and lack of warning for the storm cell that caused the boats sinking.

Thirowing the (possibly dead) captain ocerboard, I see.

[DJJasonp]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

Stood around & watched.

It always amazes me how people get upset at people for recording something like this. They were on the Branson Belle with a full crew aboard. Did you want all the passengers to start diving into the water? Talk about tragedy. Multiple the deaths by ten if everyone did that. Have common sense people. This rush to judgment & condemnation of people disgusts me.

wow....sorry to disgust you. You must get disgusted easily.

Your comment is fair though.

But even if you're going to stand around and do nothing (as you put it).......isnt it, at the very least, a little morbid to film people dying in a tragedy?

It's not like these people are photojournalists working for Time magazine.

Maybe just me.....but I also remember a thread a while back where kids were filming a guy drowning where the theme/comments were similar.

[Pogue]

Originally Posted by mikeyis4dcats.

because they were close to the dock, and that was the way the wind was blowing. They couldn't run cross wind otherwise they have a much higher risk of capsizing.

It shouldn’t matter how close to the dock the boat was, the captain should know the boat can’t hold up in those conditions. Why not have the wind at your back and just beach it?