Branson Duck Boat Tragedy: What We Know
On July 19, 2018, a Ride the Ducks tourist boat capsized on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri during a severe thunderstorm, killing 17 people, including nine members of the Coleman family from Indiana.
Read “NTSB says deadly duck boat investigation could a take year” on WPSD Local 6
Survivor Tia Coleman, who lost her husband and three children, tearfully recalled the harrowing experience, saying passengers were told they wouldn’t need life jackets and that no warning was given despite a severe storm watch issued hours earlier.
The vessel, Stretch Duck 07, was built in 1944 and had passed a Coast Guard inspection just months before the incident. However, past inspections had identified mechanical issues, and the boat had a history of being temporarily grounded.
Steve Paul, a vehicle safety inspector, previously warned Ripley Entertainment in 2017 of dangerous design flaws in the boats, including low-lying exhaust systems that could fail in rough water.
Victims ranged in age from 1 to 76 and included families from Indiana, Missouri, Illinois, and Arkansas. The tragedy exceeded the number of deaths on the lake in the last decade combined.
Investigations by the NTSB, Coast Guard, and other agencies are ongoing. The Ride the Ducks Branson operation has since been shut down. Survivors and grieving families continue to seek answers and accountability.
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