BRANSON MO NEWS:
Faiz Siddiqui, The Washington Post
Published
6:49 pm PDT, Wednesday, August 1, 2018
The U.S. Coast Guard said Wednesday that it has launched an investigation into the duck-boat tragedy that killed 17 people, including nine members of one family, during a storm in Missouri last month.
The formal Marine Board of Investigation, the branch’s highest-level probe, will examine factors such as the amphibious vehicle’s compliance with regulations, crew members’ qualifications and duties, relevant accident data, weather-related factors and the Coast Guard’s oversight.
“Our hearts go out to the victims as well as the families and friends that have been impacted by this terrible tragedy that occurred in Branson, [Missouri]” Capt. Wayne Arguin, chairman of the Marine Board of Investigation, said in a press release. “The Coast Guard will conduct a thorough and detailed investigation to identify all potential causal factors associated with this tragedy.”
Twenty-nine passengers and two crew members were aboard when the amphibious vehicle capsized during torrential rain and 65 mph wind gusts on July 19. After it capsized, the boat sank to the bottom of Table Rock Lake in Branson. Fourteen people survived. The victims included one crew member and 16 passengers, including nine members of the Coleman family of Indiana.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the calamity, and the state of Missouri has launched a criminal probe into the boat’s sinking.
The Coast Guard joins the NTSB investigation as an “equal partner,” the branch said. Its panel will be charged with determining the accident’s contributing factors and finding any evidence of “misconduct, inattention to duty, negligence or willful violation of the law” by those involved. The Coast Guard also will be charged with determining whether personnel within its own ranks, or other government employees or representatives, played a role in the casualties.
Ripley Entertainment, which owns and …
Author:
SPONSOR:
Best Branson Condos: The best deals in Branson Missouri for nightly condo rentals. Quality condo rentals with no hidden fees or catches. The best option when visiting Branson, Missouri for your next vacation.
VISIT: Best Branson Condos for more information.
Powered by WPeMatico