Death toll rises to 17 after duck boat capsizes in Missouri lake amid stormy weather – killing nine from the same family
Nine people from a single family were among the dead, with the victims aged between 1 and 70 years old
Seventeen people have been confirmed dead after a duck boat carrying tourists on a Missouri lake capsized in stormy weather and sank Thursday night, including nine people from a single family. All missing people appeared to have been accounted for.
Stone County Sheriff Doug Rader confirmed the total number of fatalities just after 10:15am local time Friday. A spokesman with the Missouri Highway Patrol said the age range of those who died was from 1 to 70 years old.
Speaking at a news conference Friday morning, Rader said the first emergency call for the boat was at 7.09pm. It sank in 80 feet of water and was upright when found by divers. The boat has not yet been removed from water.
According to the Missouri governor’s office, nine of the 17 dead in the accident are from one family; two members of that family survived. Rader said the boat’s captain survived but the driver did not. Seven people were taken to hospitals, two with critical injuries.
There reportedly were 31 people on the “Ride the Ducks” boat, a vehicle that goes from land to water and is a popular attraction for tourists at Table Rock Lake. Some people were able to swim to shore, according to media reports.