Members of the Utilities and Transportation Commission have gathered in an urgent meeting to remove all “duck boats” for the time being and while investigation is still ongoing.
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The suspension also came after federal investigators revealed that the amphibious vehicles did not have an axle fix, which was suggested for these boats two years ago. He didn’t address whether he had known of the 2013 notice before the accident. Owner Brian Tracey said on Sunday that he and his staff are working to understand exactly what happened as it relates to the axle fix that was never done on the duck vehicle involved in the crash. For now at least, Seattleites won’t be seeing the familiar sight (and hearing the familiar sounds) of Ride the Duck vehicles around town. It said in a written statement Monday that it warned its customers in 2013 about potential failure of the front axle housing assembly on 57 vehicles in service around the country, and it recommended specific inspections and repairs to reinforce the housing. Four college students died at the scene, and another died at Harborview on Sunday. Early proofs are that is actually Ride the Ducks of Seattle hadn’t restored axles coming from a of its motor vehicles, said David Pratt, the payments partner executive for transit demand.
The crash occurred Thursday on Seattle’s Aurora Bridge, a six-lane span with no median. Fifteen people were transported to hospitals and were in critical condition, as HNGN previously reported.
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It’s still unclear whether Ride the Ducks of Seattle was in receipt of that warning.
