Read initial coverage here. “Just the sound. The smell of gas”, said Rujia Xie, 16, from China, who was on the bus carrying about 45 North Seattle College students and staff. The group was heading to Safeco Field as part of new-student orientation programmes. In all, Murray said, 51 people were injured seriously enough to be taken to eight area hospitals.
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At least two other people were critically hurt. Susan Gregg, a spokeswoman for Harborview and the University of Washington medical centers, released a statement early Friday that gave the conditions of some of them.
The vehicle, which consisted of two bus carriers connected in the middle with accordion-like flexibility to help in turns, plunged 50 feet, hit an apartment building’s roof in the Fremont neighborhood and ended up upright, albeit split in two.
Seattle Police Detective Patrick Michaud told CNN that all the people who died were bus passengers.
A “Ride the Ducks” spokesperson said the company has suspended operations for the rest of the day.
Tim Gesner and his wife arrived from Orlando on Wednesday. He said he stood up in the back seat to snap a photo when the vehicle lost control. It was my fault, and I accepted it, Zakharenko said.Despite his dismissal, Zakharenko defended Traceys company.The guys who are running the preparation of new drivers, they do an wonderful job, he said.
“I got out of my auto and there were bodies just everywhere”, he said.
The U.S. Coast Guard in Seattle also reported Thursday it annually inspects the company’s 20 Ducks now in operation to ensure they’re fit to operate in Lake Union.
One witness told the Seattle Times that the tour vehicle appeared to have something wrong with its front left tyre as it swerved and crash into the school bus.
The bridge is closed to all traffic, and the mayor said the closure could continue into the evening rush hour.
The NTSB will be studying the crash wreckage, which was taken to a warehouse in South Seattle and will be looking closely at witness statements.
“Then all of a sudden the duck boat turned sharper into the left”, he said.
A bouquet of flowers sits on the schoool campus with a note that reads, “With sorrow, from the community”.
The Japanese Foreign Ministry confirmed the a Japanese national was among those killed. Stay with MyFoxBoston.com for updates as they become available.
The students attended North Seattle College, which said several students are in critical condition, while other students and a North employee had serious injuries.
Brian Tracey, owner of Seattle’s “Ride The Ducks” franchise, said, “We feel absolutely horrified that anyone was injured, anybody’s life was taken….”
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The Duck fleet out of service out of respect for the victims.
