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'{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2018}} {{current|date=July 2018}} {{Infobox event | title = Table Rock Lake boat accident | image = File:Aerial photo of Table Rock Dam, lake, and White River, October 2009.jpg | image_size = 200px | caption = Table Rock Dam and Table Rock Lake | date = July 19, 2018 | time = Around 19:00 ([[Central Time Zone|CST]]) | place = [[Table Rock Lake]], [[Missouri]], [[United States]] | coordinates = {{coord|36|34|00|N|93|18|0|W|type:waterbody_region:US|display=inline,title}} | cause = Inclement weather and rough surf | participants = 31 | reported deaths = 17 | reported injuries = 7 | reported missing = }} The '''Table Rock Lake duck boat accident''' was an incident that occurred in the evening hours of July 19, 2018, on [[Table Rock Lake]] in the [[Ozarks]] near [[Branson, Missouri]], in which a [[DUKW|duck boat]], with 31 passengers aboard, overturned during a [[Thunderstorm#Severe thunderstorms|thunderstorm]], resulting in 17 deaths. ==Background== [[File:Boston Duck Boat in Water 2.JPG|thumb|upright|A duck boat similar in design to the one involved in this accident]] [[DUKW]] ("Duck") boats are a modification of vehicles typically used by the [[United States Armed Forces|United States military]] during the later years of [[World War II]] and the [[Korean War]].<ref name="ExpressUK">{{cite web |last1=Laud |first1=Georgina |title=Missouri boat tragedy: 13 dead - What is a duck boat? Are they dangerous? |url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/991920/missouri-boat-tragedy-duck-boat-capsized-storm-table-rock-lake |website=Express |accessdate=July 20, 2018}}</ref> After the Korean War ended, the vehicles became available in surplus and a veteran in [[Minnesota]] began a business giving rides aboard the vessels to tourists on the [[Wisconsin River]]. Over the last 50 years, the practice has expanded to other areas of the world and several major cities in the United States feature [[Duck tour|duck boat tours]] as an option for tourists, including [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]], [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Philadelphia]], and [[Washington, D.C.]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/07/20/branson-duck-boat-accident-what-happened/806195002/|title=Branson duck boat accident: What exactly happened in Missouri tragedy|work=USA TODAY|access-date=July 20, 2018|language=en}}</ref> In addition to the Table Rock Lake accident, there have been several other notable accidents<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2018/07/20/before-mass-casualty-near-branson-duck-boats-had-history-fatalities/804987002/|title=Before 'mass casualty' incident near Branson, duck boats had history of fatalities|work=Springfield News-Leader|access-date=July 20, 2018|language=en}}</ref> resulting in fatalities, including one in [[Seattle]] in 2015<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ntsb-finds-probable-cause-of-deadly-seattle-duck-boat-crash/|title=NTSB finds probable cause of deadly Seattle duck boat crash|access-date=July 20, 2018|language=en}}</ref> and one near [[Hot Springs, Arkansas]], in 1999<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/13-dead-in-boat-accident/|title=13 Dead In Boat Accident|access-date=July 20, 2018|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.kark.com/news/local-news/branson-duck-boat-accident-stirs-memories-of-lake-hamilton-tragedy/1312676688|title=Branson Duck Boat Accident Stirs Memories of Lake Hamilton Tragedy|date=July 20, 2018|work=KARK|access-date=July 20, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> in which 5 and 13 people were killed, respectively. ==Accident== The accident occurred shortly after 7 p.m. local time on July 19, 2018, as a line of thunderstorms moved across the region. Approximately a half-hour prior to the accident, the [[National Weather Service]] issued a [[Severe thunderstorm warning|severe thunderstorm warning]] for areas around and including Table Rock Lake.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://weather.com/news/news/2018-07-20-missouri-fatal-boat-crash-table-rock-lake-branson|title=Death Toll Rises to 17 After Missouri Duck Boat Sinks in Severe Storm; All Passengers Accounted For {{!}} The Weather Channel|work=The Weather Channel|access-date=July 20, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> The warning was issued at 6:32 p.m. local time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/vtec/#2018-O-NEW-KSGF-SV-W-0243/USCOMP-N0Q-201807192330|title=Severe Thunderstorm Warning|last=|first=|date=|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=}}</ref> It is not known if the two crew members aboard the vessel were aware of the warning or what action they attempted to take. The National Weather Service reports that winds in the area at the time were in excess of {{convert|60|mph}} and the storm over the lake was moving "very quickly" and causing "three-foot waves on the lake".<ref name="FoxNews">{{cite web |last1=Joyce |first1=Kathleen |title=Missouri duck boat capsizes in lake amid violent storm; children among several dead |url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/07/20/missouri-duck-boat-capsizes-in-lake-amid-violent-storm-children-among-several-dead.html |website=Fox News |accessdate=July 20, 2018}}</ref> The vessel, one of two owned by Ride the Ducks Branson that was on the lake at the time,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/07/19/at-least-8-reported-dead-as-duck-boat-capsizes-near-branson-mo-divers-search-for-survivors/|title=17 people killed when duck boat sinks during storm in Missouri, police say|website=Washington Post|language=en|access-date=July 20, 2018}}</ref> began taking on water as high winds contributed to rough waves. The first [[9-1-1|911]] call was received at 7:09 p.m. as the boat was already going under the water, according to the local sheriff.<ref name="KSDK">{{cite web |last1=Hulsey |first1=Joel |title=Branson duck boat tragedy: 17 dead, all passengers accounted for |url=https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/branson-duck-boat-tragedy-17-dead-all-passengers-accounted-for/63-575837245 |website=KSDK.com |publisher=Tegna, Inc. |accessdate=July 20, 2018}}</ref> Local officials reported the following morning that all passengers and crew aboard the vessel had been accounted for and confirmed a total of 17 deaths.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/07/20/branson-duck-boat-accident-what-happened/806195002/|title=Branson duck boat accident: What exactly happened in Missouri tragedy|work=USA TODAY|access-date=July 20, 2018|language=en}}</ref> The ages of those who died in the accident ranged from 1 to 70 years old. Nine were members of a single family.<ref name="CNN">{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/20/us/missouri-boat-incident/index.html|title=17 killed in Missouri duck boat sinking ranged in age from 1 to 70|last1=Hanna|first1=Jason|last2=Stapleton|first2=Anne-Claire|last3=Karimi|first3=Faith|last4=Baldacci|first4=Marlena|work=CNN|date=July 20, 2018|accessdate=July 20, 2018}}</ref> ==Investigation== The [[National Transportation Safety Board]] dispatched a team of investigators to the accident site the following day.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215221845.html|title=President Trump tweets about duck boat tragedy as Missouri leaders work with NTSB|work=kansascity|access-date=July 20, 2018|language=en}}</ref> In response to previous incidents involving duck boats, the NTSB had issued strong warnings about the design of the vehicles and the danger posed to passengers by their overhead canopies.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article215219170.html|title=Federal agency warned about danger of duck boat canopies before Table Rock tragedy|work=kansascity|access-date=July 20, 2018|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/07/20/duck-boat-amphibious-vehicle-regulations/807244002/|title='Death traps': Federal officials have warned about dangers from duck boats for two decades|work=USA TODAY|access-date=July 20, 2018|language=en}}</ref> Jim Pattison Jr., president of [[Ride the Ducks]] Branson,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/breaking-news/2018/07/20/owner-branson-boat-company-shouldnt-have-been-water/806322002/|title=Owner of Branson duck boat company: 'It shouldn't have been in the water|work=Springfield News-Leader|access-date=July 20, 2018|language=en}}</ref> which operated the vessel, told the media that the storm that moved through the area and led to the accident "came out of nowhere,"<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://weather.com/news/news/2018-07-19-missouri-boat-crash-deaths-table-rock-lake-branson|title=Death Toll Rises to 17 After Missouri Duck Boat Sinks in Severe Storm {{!}} The Weather Channel|work=The Weather Channel|access-date=July 20, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://weather.com/news/news/2018-07-20-missouri-fatal-boat-crash-table-rock-lake-branson|title=Death Toll Rises to 17 After Missouri Duck Boat Sinks in Severe Storm; All Passengers Accounted For {{!}} The Weather Channel|work=The Weather Channel|access-date=July 20, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> a claim that observers have disputed.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/marshallshepherd/2018/07/20/duck-boat-tragedy-was-preventable-because-storm-did-not-come-out-of-nowhere/#28ec29b830f8|title=The Duck Boat Tragedy Was Preventable Because The Storm Did Not 'Come Out Of Nowhere'|last=Shepherd|first=Marshall|work=Forbes|access-date=July 20, 2018|language=en}}</ref> ==References== {{reflist}} [[Category:2018 in Missouri]] [[Category:Boating accident deaths]] [[Category:Ozarks]] [[Category:Maritime incidents in 2018]] [[Category:July 2018 events in the United States]] [[Category:2018 disasters in the United States]]'