EMB ERJ 140 ER/LR
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Distraction
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Vehicle
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action; General Work Refused; General Release Refused / Aircraft Not Accepted
Human Factors
We were parked at the gate with the parking brake set and the main cabin door open. Passengers were boarding and we were waiting for final paperwork.  The aircraft had been fueled and the flight attendant was doing her final count.  The ramper drove the tug into the right wing tearing gash in the leading edge of the right wing; and damaging the outer tip of the wing as well. We deplaned the passengers because after the event; fuel was leaking out of the tug onto the ramp.  Because the guy driving the tug appeared to be driving too fast; and not paying attention to his surroundings.Better training for the station ground personnel.  There was nothing more we could have done to avoid this situation. We were parked where we were supposed to; how we were supposed to. A couple of our passengers mentioned it appeared to them they he was driving too fast and wasn't paying attention where he was going.  That seemed to be evident as he drove into our wing while we were parked.
An EMB-140 First Officer; while parked at the gate; observed a '...ramper drove the tug into the right wing tearing gash in the leading edge of the right wing; and damaging the outer tip of the wing as well.'