A grandmother on a special trip with the granddaughter she is credited with saving. A couple celebrating their 45th wedding anniversary. A large tight-knit family from Indianapolis, Indiana. A church deacon and his teenage son, who was only recently baptized. These are just some of the victims who perished in the Branson duck accident tragedy. According to the Stone County sheriff, 17 people have died in the accident, likely from drowning. Some of them were children, as the victims ranged in age from 1 to more than 70. Nine members of the same family died in the tragedy. They have been named as the Coleman family of Indianapolis, Indiana. Robert “Bob” Williams was the first victim identified in the “Ride the Ducks” tragedy. According to CNN, Williams was the driver of the boat. He was 73 years old. You can read more about him later in this article. Here’s how you can donation to victims’ funds. Here is the full list of victims: Initially, authorities said that four people were still missing by the morning of July 20, 2018. However, by mid-day, they said that all of the victims were accounted for. You can read the biographies of the victims below and see photos. Here’s what you need to know: Robert Williams Was Remembered as a ‘God-Fearing Man’ Robert Williams was the first victim named. Williams’ grandson, Victor Richardson, described his grandfather to CNN. “He was a God-fearing man; he was very humble. He was the calmest spirit you could ever meet,” Richardson said. Williams and his wife, Judy, had been married for more than 30 years. They lived together in Branson. Williams worked as a CDL driver for Ride the Ducks Branson. Before joining the company, he worked as a chauffeur at Branson Limousine & Executive Charter, Inc. He also worked as an ambassador at Amazing Acrobats of Shanghai and an usher at Amazing Acrobats of Shanghai. He was 73 and from Missouri. You can read more about his life here: Nine Members of the Coleman Family Died This is the Coleman family. Only two family members remain after the duck boat they were on capsized in Branson Missouri. pic.twitter.com/OjRQLhbGPE — Alexis McAdams (@AlexisMcAdamsTV) July 20, 2018 Horrifically, multiple news outlets are now reporting that nine members of the same family perished in the tragedy. Another two members of that family were among the survivors. The deceased members of the family were named as: Angela Coleman, 45; Arya Coleman, 1; Belinda Coleman, 69; Ervin Coleman, 76; Evan Coleman, 7; Glenn Coleman, 40; Horace Coleman, 70; Maxwell Coleman, 2 and Reece Coleman, 9. WXIN spoke to Tia Coleman, who survived the tragedy along with her nephew. “My heart is very heavy. Out of 11 of us, only two of us surviving – that’s me and my nephew,” said Tia. “I lost all of my children. I lost my husband. I lost my mother-in-law and my father-in-law. I lost my uncle. I lost my sister-in-law … and I lost my nephew.” Tia Coleman also told the television station, “The only thing that I would like to be done but can’t, is to bring my family back,” and she alleged that the duck’s captain told the passengers, “don’t worry about grabbing the life jackets – you won’t need them,” so her family members didn’t take them. Tia also spoke extensively about the tragedy in an emotional and moving press conference. You can see video of that here. You can read more about the Coleman family here. William & Janice Bright Were Celebrating Their Wedding Anniversary William and Janice Bright were a married couple. According to The Kansas City Star, they are among the victims of the Duck boat tragedy. They had been married for more than 40 years. William Bright’s sister, Karen Abbott, told the Star she was extremely angry, saying, “I think this company should have their ass sued off of them and every penny they made should be returned to every victim that’s ever lost their lives in this.” The Brights have three children and 16 grandchildren, the newspaper reported. Bright’s parents both died decades ago, so his sister told the newspaper it was just her and her brother. Janice Bright was 63; William Bright was 75. Both were from Missouri. The couple was in Branson to celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary. You can read more about the Brights here. Leslie Dennison Saved Her Granddaughter’s Life Leslie Dennison is being hailed a hero for saving her granddaughter during the tragedy. “I love you so much momma and your a hero in my eyes RIP momma ! !” her son wrote on Facebook. People on his comment thread remembered her as a “sweet lady.” According to Kansas City.com, Leslie was in Branson as a special trip with her granddaughter, Alicia, 12, who was also on the duck. Alicia’s dad told the newspaper that his daughter “could feel her grandmother from below pushing her upward.” “She said her grandmother saved her,” he said, according to the newspaper. Leslie Dennison was 64 and from Illinois. You can read more about her here. Bill Asher & Rosemarie Hamman Were Boyfriend & Girlfriend Social media tributes indicated that Bill Asher and Rose Hamman were among the victims. “Rest In Peace,Bill Asher & Rosie. The North Side Reunion will never be the same. This is heartbreaking ?❤️?. You will not be forgotten. You always made the reunion so much fun. I say we call it The Bill Asher North Side Reunion at least for this year,” wrote one woman on Facebook. They were boyfriend and girlfriend and were from St. Louis. “It’s devastating, Will was such an integral part of the community here. He knew everybody there wasn’t a person that drove by that he didn’t wave to, talked to he was just wonderful,”said former neighbor Jim Roepke to KMOV-TV. Asher was 69 and Hamann was 68. Both were from Missouri. Lance & Steve Smith #BREAKING: 2 Arkansans died on the duck boat in Branson. According to church members’s Facebook posts, Steve Smith and Lance Smith, 15, are from Osceola.<doc-sep>Seventeen people, including children, were killed when a duck boat sank on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri, on Thursday evening. Nine members of one family and the driver of the Ride the Ducks tourist boat were among the victims as the vessel sank in 40 feet of water, Stone County Sheriff Doug Rader told reporters Friday. The captain of the boat survived. Rader said the amphibious boat is currently resting upright on its wheels in 80 feet of water. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said other details of the accident remained unclear as local, state and federal authorities began an investigation. The Table Rock Lake Chamber of Commerce has partnered with other area groups to collect donations through GoFundMe for those impacted by the incident. What happened? The boat, carrying 29 passengers and two crew members, flipped during a severe thunderstorm. Seven passengers – three children and four adults – received medical attention at the nearby Cox Medical Center in Branson, Missouri. Three were admitted as patients. Two are in the critical care unit and one is in "fair condition," said Kaitlyn McConnell, a media relations coordinator at CoxHealth. The death toll rose to 17 throughout Thursday evening and into the morning Friday as missing passengers were found in the lake. What was the weather like? The National Weather Service in Springfield predicted winds up to 70 mph Thursday, and issued a severe thunderstorm watch from 11:20 a.m. until 9 p.m., according to NWS meteorologist Kelsey Angle. "Conditions were coming together for the potential for severe storms, with widespread damaging winds likely," Angle said. "Isolated winds gusts of 70 to 75 miles per hour would be possible." The storm hit the lake with 80 mph winds that kicked up waves 5 feet high, said Capt. Jim Pulley, owner of Sea Tow Table Rock Lake. The Branson Airport reported winds of 63 mph at 7:25 p.m., Angle said. Rolling terrain, trees and buildings can slow "straight-line" wind but it picks up speed when it hits flat, open water because there is less drag to slow it down, she added. How are duck boats regulated? Federal officials have expressed concerns for nearly 20 years about duck boat regulations. Because the boats operate on both land and water, they are regulated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as well as the Coast Guard. The National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the accident, has complained about a lack of uniform oversight for these vehicles. Because they are part boat and part bus, rules like when passengers must wear seat belts – yes on land, no in the water– can be confusing for companies. What are the issues with their canopies? Another safety concern for duck boats is their canopies. The Coast Guard requires all passengers wear life jackets while on the water. However, the NTSB recommends that passengers not wear them on duck boats because, if the boat sinks, passengers can become stuck under the canopy. The NTSB has also urged the removal of canopies from the vehicles, but many companies who give duck boat tours leave them on. Have there been other deadly duck boat accidents? Duck boats — amphibious vehicles that can travel on both land and water — have a long history of fatal crashes and accidents. In 2015, five college students died and 69 others were injured in Seattle when a duck boat crashed with a bus. That same year, a woman in Philadelphia was killed when she was hit by a duck boat while crossing a street. What are duck boats? Duck boats were first used during World War II to carry supplies over land and water to troops. When the war ended, the military made certain supplies available to the public, and Bob Unger, a veteran from Minnesota, purchased a boat and began giving tours along the Wisconsin River. Since then, duck boat tours have become popular attractions across the United States, especially in cities with rivers like Boston and Washington, D.C. In 2005, multiple "Ride the Duck" companies merged under the name Ride the Ducks International, LLC, according to the Missouri Secretary of State's website, including tours in Branson, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Memphis and San Diego. In December, the company was acquired by Ripley Entertainment.<doc-sep>People have laid flowers on passengers cars' left at the duck boat parking lot in Missouri https://t.co/fwlzXSNDBo pic.twitter.com/hSrpLPDIAv — CBS News (@CBSNews) July 20, 2018 Some time after a duck boat on Table Rock Lake near Branson, Missouri, capsized the Stone County Sheriff confirmed that people had died. People in the area offered their condolences by putting single stems of flowers on the windshields of cars in the parking lot. In many instances where there is a mass casualty event, people will often create makeshift memorials in an effort to honor the deceased. In this case, the cars in the parking lot served as a memorial. A single flower was placed on the windshield of each car in a touching, emotional tribute to those who experienced Thursday night’s tragedy. The duck boat capsized after taking in water from high waves. The boat was carrying 31 people when a storm rolled into the area, causing very rough waters and high waves. The waves crashed into the boat from all angles, and the vessel quickly began taking on water. Within a few minutes, the duck boat began to sink. People in the area describe the storm as being intense. “Our son and my husband was down there at our docks and they said boats were coming up head level because of the waves — it was crazy. It was like the ocean out there. We’ve been here 12 years and I’ve never seen anything like it. I looked out the window and everything was fine. Then it turned dark and the wind kicked up like I’ve never seen before. I thought it was tornadic winds,” Lakeside Resort Restaurant and General Store co-owner, Stephanie Kettells, told the Springfield News-Leader. A fisherman who had been out on his boat with his daughter also spoke to the outlet about the crazy weather. “By the time we got out of the cove, it had already got dark up there. I looked up to the north and I said ‘What is that there?’ It looked like dust but it was white. It was like a nest,” Nixa resident Brandon Hite told the Springfield News-Leader. “”My whole goal was to keep the nose of the boat (pointed) in the wind because if I went sideways, we would have capsized. It was definitely scary,” Hite added. Rescue efforts were underway shortly after the first reports of trouble on Table Rock Lake. Stone County Sheriff Doug Rader has since confirmed that 17 people have died in this tragedy. Rader believes that all 17 victims died by drowning. All of the passengers on the boat have been accounted for.<doc-sep>EMBED >More News Videos The family of a woman struck and killed by an amphibious tourist boat on a street last spring has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit. EMBED >More News Videos The operator of the popular Philadelphia duck boat tours has suspended operations in the city "indefinitely," the company said. EMBED >More News Videos Lawyer of victims in deadly Philadelphia duck boat crashes calls for shutdown. Matt O'Donnell reports during Action News Mornings on July 20, 2018. PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A Missouri duck boat accident that killed 17 people has the attorney who represented the families of victims of two deadly incidents in Philadelphia calling for the complete shutdown of the company. "This has happened repeatedly. I watched the video last night. They ride low in the water. The boat capsized and, quite frankly, they should be banned," lawyer Robert Mongeluzzi told 6abc Action News in a phone interview Friday morning. "This is not something we are just saying now. "In July 2010, Szaboolcs Prem and Doran Schwendtner, two Hungarian students, were killed when a tugboat-guided barge struck a Ride The Ducks boat on the Delaware River. They were part of a group of Hungarians visiting the U.S. through a church exchange.Matthew Devlin, the tug pilot who was talking on his cell phone at the time, was sentenced to a year in prison. The duck boats did not operate for eight months afterward.In May 2015, Elizabeth Karnicki, a Texas woman, was struck and killed by a duck boat while walking at 11th and Arch streets in the Chinatown section of the city.Ride The Ducks said in a statement, at the time, that its "safety is of paramount importance." But the company said no citation was issued "and the police indicated Ride The Ducks was not at fault. "Mongeluzzi's firm won a $17 million settlement over the fatal 2010 duck boat accident. He has repeatedly called for the banning of the vessels.He says the duck boats have non-removable canopies that essentially make them "deathtraps. ""If you use your life preserver and you're inside you'll get trapped under the canopy and drown. If you don't use your life preserver and you're inside then you don't have the flotation to get to the surface," Mongeluzzi said.Ride The Ducks which uses World War II amphibious vehicles to show tourists the sights on land and water, began operations in Philadelphia in 2003. The company ceased operation in the city in 2016. At the time, Ride The Ducks said that it made the move due to financial reasons. "Due to circumstances outside of our control including a 330% increase in our insurance premiums, continued operations in Philadelphia are not financially feasible at this time," the company said in a statement.Seventeen people, including children, died after a boat carrying tourists on a Missouri lake capsized and sank Thursday night.Stone County Sheriff Doug Rader said five people remain missing and seven others were hospitalized after a Ride The Ducks boat sank on Table Rock Lake in Branson.In 2015 in Seattle, five college students were killed when a boat collided with a bus. In 1999, 13 people were killed after a duck boat sank near Hot Springs, Arkansas.Safety advocates have sought improvements to the boats since the Arkansas incident. Critics argued that part of the problem is numerous agencies regulate the boats with varying safety requirements.Mongeluzzi says this recent incident and the Philadelphia ones are similar in nature because of the canopies and something needs to be done. "That is the same issue that we faced in Philadelphia. It is the issue the NTSB identified almost 20 years ago. They warned about this hazard again and again. And enough is enough," Mongeluzzi said.----The Associated Press contributed to this report------<doc-sep>
Seventeen people are dead after an amphibious duck boat with tourists on board sank in a heavy storm near Branson, Missouri on Thursday. The Stone County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the death toll on Friday morning after a dive team concluded recovery efforts to find four missing bodies. The boat, from Ride the Ducks Branson, was one of two vessels caught in a heavy storm that rolled into the area about 7 p.m. local time. Videos posted on local media showed two boats struggling to make it to shore on Table Rock Lake amid heavy windy and choppy waters. There were 31 people – 29 passengers and two crew members – aboard the capsized boat, according to the Stone County Sheriff’s Office. At a press conference Friday morning, Stone County Sheriff Doug Rader said the driver of the duck boat died in the accident, but the boat’s captain was among the survivors. He said an off-duty sheriff’s deputy working on security for the nearby Branson Belle riverboat in Table Rock Lake helped to rescue people in the water after the accident. “It’s been a long night and a very trying night,” Rader said. Seventeen people have been confirmed dead, including children. Fourteen survived, with seven taken to hospital. Those who died ranged in age from 1 to 70 years old, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Jason Pace. Rader said Friday morning that he did not have more information about whether the boat operators had checked the weather forecast before leaving shore or whether passengers had been wearing life jackets on board. The National Transportation Safety Board has dispatched a team to investigate the cause of the accident. “Right now, it’s just a time for thoughts and prayers. There’s a lot of healing that has to take place right now,” Missouri Governor Mike Parson said at Friday’s press conference. “All those details will come in time, but for right now, it’s about really trying to protect the families, to unite the families and to deal with the situation they’re in. I think that’s the most important thing.” Who are the victims of the duck boat accident? The Stone County Sheriff’s Office on Friday released the names of the 17 victims. They include nine members of the same family, a couple from St. Louis, a couple from Higginsville, a father and son from Arkansas and a grandmother who died saving her granddaughter, according to local media reports. The boat’s driver, Bob Williams, was also among the deceased. Why did the duck boat sink? Stone County Sheriff Doug Rader attributed the sinking to heavy winds. The National Weather Service had issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the Branson area Thursday evening. Wind speeds reached 60 mph, a weather service meteorologist in Springfield told the Associated Press. “They were coming back to land. There were actually two ducks. The first one made it out and the second one didn’t,” Rader said at a press conference Thursday night. Video posted to the Springfield News-Leader showed the two boats struggling to make it to shore in heavy wind and waves. Onlooker Jennie P. Carr, who was on the Branson Belle Showboat as people had dinner, recorded footage of the boat’s nose sinking below the water. The camera turned away before the boat sank. “It got closer to us on the Showboat and you could see water going into the boat. I did see he was starting to sink. It was leaning to the right,” she told the newspaper. She said the boat was out of sight when it sank. What is the duck boat operator saying? On Friday morning the operators’ website was replaced by an image of a black ribbon, with a statement reading: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic accident that occurred at Ride The Ducks Branson. This incident has deeply affected all of us. Words cannot convey how profoundly our hearts are breaking.” It continued, “We will continue to do all we can to assist the families who were involved and the authorities as they continue with the search and rescue. The safety of our guests and employees is our number one priority. Ride the Ducks will be closed for business while we support the investigation, and to allow time to grieve for the families and the community.” “Thank you for your support, and we ask that your thoughts and prayers be with the families during this time.” Have there been other fatal duck boat accidents?