MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Ride the Ducks no stranger to collisions

Sep 24, 2015, 1:34 PM | Updated: Sep 25, 2015, 7:01 am

Thursday’s collision involving a Ride the Duck vehicle on Seattle’s Aurora Bridge is no...

Thursday's collision involving a Ride the Duck vehicle on Seattle's Aurora Bridge is not the first incident of its kind. (Creative Commons/SounderBruce)

(Creative Commons/SounderBruce)

Thursday’s collision involving a Ride the Duck vehicle on Seattle’s Aurora Bridge is not the first incident of its kind with such amphibious vehicles.

The tour company, with franchises across the nation, takes visitors around towns in vehicles that are capable of navigating both streets and waterways.

In 2010, two people died in Philadelphia when a tugboat ran over a Ride the Ducks vehicle. It was later discovered that the tugboat driver was on his cell phone.

In 1999, 13 people in Arkansas drowned in an accident on a similar tour with the same kind of amphibious vessel. It was not a Ride the Ducks company vehicle, however.

In Seattle, there is a string of minor accidents involving the Ride the Ducks vehicles, one as recently as July when a pedestrian was struck and injured.

In 2012, a motorcyclist sued Seattle’s Ride the Ducks company after an accident in which he says he was run over and dragged by one of the vehicles.

The man’s attorney, Steve Bulzomi, said the lawsuit forced the company to install cameras in front of the vehicles to increase visibility, but he still thinks they’re unsafe. Duck drivers have too much on their plate, Bulzomi said.

“They’re performing three different roles: driver, tour guide, and entertainer. The combination of all those things creates a dangerous situation and overloads the driver.”

KIRO Radio’s Sara Lerner contributed to this report.

MyNorthwest News

belltown hellcat social media...

Frank Sumrall

Infamous ‘Belltown Hellcat’ social media influencer charged with reckless driving

The social media influencer has been accused of driving 107 miles per hour through Belltown in a Dodge Hellcat.

1 hour ago

KIRO Newsradio gracie awards...

MyNorthwest Staff

KIRO Newsradio anchors receive Gracie Awards for outstanding work

Heather Bosch and Lisa Brooks, anchors at KIRO Newsradio, have been honored by the Alliance for Women in Media with prestigious Gracie Awards.

4 hours ago

Kia Boys...

Kate Stone and Bill Kaczaraba

‘Kia Boyz’ allegedly execute a crime spree in south King County

Renton police chased down a 14-and 16-year-old but are still looking for two other teen suspects in what they said was a "crime spree" in south King County.

5 hours ago

Spanaway woman shot dead...

Kate Stone

Search for shooter continues after woman shot dead while driving in Spanaway

A 47-year-old woman was shot dead in Spanaway, causing her to hit another driver head-on early Wednesday morning.

6 hours ago

nintendo redmond...

Frank Sumrall

Nintendo to lay off 86 Redmond employees this spring

Nintendo of America is laying off 86 contract workers in Redmond, beginning May 25, due to company reorganization.

7 hours ago

Everett boy missing...

Sam Campbell

4-year-old Everett boy missing, police worried he’s in danger

Police and Search and Rescue crews are looking for a missing four-year-old boy they suspect could be in danger.

8 hours ago

Ride the Ducks no stranger to collisions