WTNH News 8: Duck boat probe will check if Coast Guard rules were ignored

Life Jackets Unused as Duck Boat is Recovered in Branson Tragedy

New details have emerged in the ongoing investigation into the duck boat disaster in Branson, Missouri, where 17 people died after the vessel sank during a severe storm. The boat has now been recovered from the bottom of Table Rock Lake by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Read “Duck boat probe will check if Coast Guard rules were ignored” on WTNH News 8

When the boat was brought to the surface, a chilling sight was revealed—a row of life jackets still hanging unused from the boat’s canopy. Survivor Tia Coleman, who lost nine family members including three children, believes those vests could have saved lives.

“I felt like if I was able to get a life jacket, I could have saved my babies,” Coleman said, recalling the final moments before the boat capsized. She noted that the captain told passengers they wouldn’t need the vests before the boat entered the water.

While federal regulations require personal flotation devices (PFDs) to be present on board, the decision to instruct passengers to wear them is left to the captain’s discretion during operations.

The boat faced 60-mph winds and six-foot swells when it sank on Thursday evening. A photo taken just before the disaster shows Coleman and her family moments before the tragedy unfolded.

Investigators are currently analyzing the boat’s data recorder for insight into the crew’s response. They’re also examining claims that no safety instructions or life jacket guidance were given before or during the trip.

Fighting through grief, Coleman said, “Since I’ve had a home, it’s always been filled with little feet and laughter. And my husband… I don’t know how I’m going to do it.”

Authorities continue to investigate multiple aspects of the sinking, including weather preparedness, crew actions, and passenger safety protocols.