New York Injury Lawyer Blawg

Recently, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) suggested that Ride the Ducks International go over its safety program to make sure their workers obey emergency procedures to prevent a repeat of last July's fatal crash on the Delaware River.

Duck boat accident lawyers and New York injury lawyers Peter Ronai and Holly Ostrov Ronai find it unacceptable for authorities to permit these boats to resume operations even though they are calling for a more thorough review.

It is irresponsible for operations to resume until the case has been heard and all safety concerns addressed. A lawsuit is pending against the tug boat operator, the duck boat company and the City of Philadelphia.

Last month, the tug boat's first mate pleaded guilty to the maritime-law equivalent of manslaughter. He also agreed to have his Coast Guard issued mate license revoked. Sentencing will be November 1, when he will face between 37 and 46 months in prison.

Though he was remorseful, his actions lead to the deaths of Dora Schwendtner, 16, and Szabolcs Prem, 20, both were Hungarian tourists. He was distracted by a family emergency and it remains a mystery why the first mate did not ask crewmates to relieve him from his duties.

Not only was the first mate distracted by his cell phone, he left the upper deck of the tug boat to go to a lower level to use a laptop. Even worse, it was learned that he had turned down the volume on the tug boats radio so no one on the vessel heard the distress calls from the disabled duck boat.

As lawyers for the victims, we appreciate that the first mate is taking responsibility for his role in this tragic accident. We are appalled that K-Sea Transportation and Ride the Ducks aren't acknowledging their roles. A K-Sea representative says the company has apologized to the victims families. A Ride the Ducks spokesperson says the blame falls to the first mate of the tug boat for being distracted and not asking for relief from his duties.

Though the NTSB held the first mate of the tug "primarily responsible" for the accident, officials did not completely let the Ride the Ducks company off the hook. Their contribution to the crash was the missing surge-tank pressure cap.

Since a mechanic failed to replace the cap, this caused smoke to fill the boat, making the captain think there was a fire on board. This event made the captain shut off the engine stranding the duck boat in the shipping channel.

We frequently post on our New York Injury Lawyer Blawg about the dangers of distracted driving. Multi-tasking is a way of life these days, but using a cell phone while operating a vehicle -- and in this case guiding a large boat -- is a recipe for disaster. A second of distraction can lead to a lifetime of regret.

Continue reading "Revamped Emergency Procedures Could Help Reduce Tour Boat Injuries Involved in Waterway Accidents in New York" »

The one-year anniversary of the tragic July 7, 2010 Duck Boat accident is almost here. On that day, 35 passengers (and 2 crew members) boarded a Duck Boat for a scenic tour of historic Philadelphia. What the passengers didn't bargain for was being hit by a barge, pushed by a tug boat whose operator was distracted by a cell phone.

Our New York injury lawyers and duck boat accident attorneys are representing the families of Hungarian students Dora Schwendtner, 16, and Szabolcs Prem, 20, who were killed in this horrific accident. They have sued the City of Philadelphia, the duck boat company and the tug boat operator.

"They're in shock, as to how so many colossal mistakes were made by two very large corporations and their employees," said Peter Ronai, a lawyer for the families.

According to The Boston Globe, the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) met in Washington to discuss making distracted driving as forbidden as drunk driving.

"Many people continue to think it's just going to take a moment (to call or text)," NTSB Chairwoman Deborah Hersman said. "How do we change that mindset? Not just the NTSB, but all of us?"

On that fateful July day, an engine problem on the duck boat left the boat stranded in the Delaware River. The helpless boat was hit by a 250-foot barge being pushed by a tugboat whose pilot was distracted.

Investigators said the K-Sea Transportation Partners tug pilot had made and received 21 cell phone calls in the 2 ½ hours prior to the crash. He had also been on a laptop surfing the internet. The pilot had also moved from the upper to the lower wheelhouse on the vessel to do his calling and internet activities.

Though the lower wheelhouse gave the pilot a quieter atmosphere, it made his ability to see the disabled 33-foot duck boat extremely difficult. It was learned the pilot had been on his cell phone for 10 of the 12 minutes prior to the crash. The stalled duck boat was in the tug boat's blind spot for the final nine minutes leading up to the crash.

"Distraction is becoming the new DUI," NTSB member Robert Sumwalt said. "This is going to reach epidemic proportions."

Society is going to have to view distracted driving similar to how they view not wearing seat belts and drinking and driving.

"It takes a generation or two to change it, but change is needed," Sumwalt said.

A federal criminal investigation into the crash is currently under way. Crews from both vessels tested negative for drugs or alcohol. Though both companies, K-Sea of East Brunswick, N.J., and Ride the Ducks of Norcross, Ga., had strong safety cultures, their training standards were not always followed.

The NTSB felt that creating safety policies aren't worth anything if they are not followed. Recently, the NTSB has investigated an accident where a tug pilot, while texting, ran his vessel in ground in the Baltic Sea, and in another case Northwest Airline pilots were using laptops in the cockpit and flew 150 miles past their destination.

"At what point do we say it's too much ... it has to stop, we can't do this anymore as a society?" Hersman asked.

Continue reading "Philly Duck Boat Accident cited as High-Profile Example of Operator Distraction" »

The Inquirer is reporting that the Coast Guard is permitting the duck boats back in the water even as the city is considering more precautions.

Our Philadelphia duck boat lawyers agree that the city needs to take every precaution possible to prevent another tragic duck boat accident. That means keeping the boats out of service until they can be proven safe. Unfortunately, the city is not willing to do that and the inherently deadly design of the boats means no amount of precaution will prevent the risk of serious of fatal injuries in the event of another accident.

The changes to how the duck boats would operate, which were approved by the Coast Guard include:

-Old route: the boats went into the water at the Race Street ramp and could travel 300 feet from the shore and could go south as far as the Independence Seaport Museum

-New route: the boats will still enter at Race Street but travel only to Pier 5 near Arch Street and only go 100 feet from the shore.

-Old trip time was 30 minutes on the water.
-New trip time decreased to 15 minutes.

-New breakdown plan has a rescue boat stationed at Pier 5 with the ability to tow a disabled duck boat to safety.

-Duck boat air horns will work even if the engine is turned off. The day of the crash when the captain saw smoke he shut off the engine, which disabled the air horn.

-A crucial change would be that no boats would enter the water if a large ship is within half a nautical mile and traveling towards the duck boat area.

When federal investigators talked to duck boat captains, including the one from the fatal crash, all agreed that encounters with barges or tugs was an issue.

Encounters of this kind is exactly what caused the devastating collision that killed 2 tourists last summer. A duck boat became disabled and while stranded waiting for help, a tugboat pushed a barge into the duck boat. The impact sent 37 people (35 passengers, 2 crew members) into the river, killing two Hungarian students, Dora Schwendtner, 16, and Szabolcs Prem, 20.

Though the company is anxious to get their boats back in the water, the city is still considering asking for additional precautions. It's too bad such precautions weren't taken before someone was killed.

This isn't the first time the duck boats have faced challenges. A Philadelphia port captain barred duck boats, from 1998 to 2002, around Penn's Landing due to safety concerns around large ships. The ban was reversed when a new captain was assigned in 2003.

The National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) investigation continues and a final report is due this summer. However, inquiry documents including interview transcript have recently been released. This information included:

-The tug boat first mate received a personal cell phone call 5 minutes before the crash.

-It cannot be determined if the duck boat captain called the Coast Guard to say he was disabled in the water.

-The source of the smoke from the duck boat could be from the cap being off the radiator. A newly hired mechanic had done an inspection the night before the accident.

Continue reading "Precautions with Philly Duck Boats may not Prevent Another Tragedy" »

As last reported by our New York injury lawyers on our New York Injury Lawyer Blawg the city was working on a plan to return the "Ride the Ducks" company vessels back into the water.

A recent article by ABC-27 is reporting on a Coast Guard approved plan that would allow "Ride the Ducks" vessels to enter the Schuylkill River and travel as far south as Pier 5. The company agreed to shorten the trip by 5 minutes but they hope to gain the 5 minutes back eventually. A standby boat would be stationed at Pier 5. No vessels would be in the water if large commercial ships are close by.

A disabled duck boat was hit by a barge, throwing 37 passengers into the Delaware River on July 7th, and Hungarian students Dora Schwendtner, 16, and Szabolcs Prem, 20, were killed. The National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) preliminary investigation found that the tugboat ignored multiple distress calls from the duck boat.

Our duck boat injury lawyers, have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the City of Philadelphia, the duck boat company and the tog boat operators on behalf of the families of the two victims who were killed.

After a 1999 duck boat accident in Hot Springs, Arkansas that drowned 13 people, the NTSB made several design change recommendations.

These boats remain deadly in the event of an accident. If they are crashed into, the boats take on water and sink. Their design lacks buoyancy material like foam or water tight compartments that would keep the boat afloat. The canopy needs emergency releases to free it from the vessel. If it remains on the boat, victims in life jackets can become trapped under it.

It doesn't make sense to return these vessels to the water; the boats are still unsafe and put riders in danger. New York Injury Lawyers Holly Ostrov Ronai and Peter Ronai adamantly oppose the Coast Guard approved plan that would allow "Ride the Ducks" vessels back in the water.

Continue reading "Officials ignoring duck boat dangers after Philadelphia Crash" »

Fox News reports that the duck boats are being permitted to return to the water next spring, despite ongoing concern about their safety after a deadly Philadelphia duck boat accident.

As our duck boat injury lawyers continue to report on our New York Injury Lawyer Blawg, attorneys for the two students killed in the July 7 accident have argued the boats should not be put back in use until passenger safety can be assured.

Hungarian students Dora Schwendtner, 16, and Szabolcs Prem, 20, were killed in the July 7 accident when a disabled duck boat was run over by a barge. Thirty-seven passengers were thrown into the Delaware River. A similar accident in 1999 killed 13 passengers in Arkansas, after which the National Transportation Safety Board recommended safety improvements that the U.S. Coast Guard never required be implemented.

"We oppose the city's decision to return the unsafe duck boats to the water regardless of the river upon which they float," said a statement from one of the lawyers representing the family of the students killed in the crash. "We regret that lives will still be at risk because of their failure to heed the NTSB's recommendation from 2002."

The Coast Guard has cleared the boats to resume operation and the city is currently working on a plan to allow them to use the smaller Schuylkill River beginning in March after a boat ramp can be built by the company that operates the boats.

A preliminary report by the NTSB found the barge's tugboat operator failed to respond to radio warnings about the disabled duck boat in the minutes before the crash. New York Injury Lawyers Holly Ostrov Ronai and Peter Ronai have filed a lawsuit against the duck boat company, the tug boat operators and the City of Philadelphia on behalf of the two students and their families.

Continue reading "City continues to ignore warnings of injury attorneys in wake of Philadelphia duck boat accident" »

The duck boat captain who was at the helm of the boat during the fatal Philadelphia duck boat accident on July 7, has sued the city and the tugboat operator involved in the crash, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

Injury Lawyers Holly Ostrov Ronai and Peter Ronai have sued the duck boat company, the tug boat operator and the City of Philadelphia on behalf of the families of Hungarian students Dora Schwendtner, 16, and Szabolcs Prem, 20, who were killed in the July 7 accident. As we reported recently on our New York Injury Lawyer Blawg, a preliminary report issued by the National Transportation Safety Board blamed the tug boat operator for failing to respond to warning calls regarding the disabled duck boat. The barge, which is owned by the city, subsequently slammed into the duck boat, throwing 37 passengers into the Delaware River.

In the court filing this month, the duck boat pilot, Gary Fox, said he nearly died that day and is suffering form several emotional and physical injuries.

Fox's complaint accuses the tug boat company of failure to maintain a proper lookout, failure to heed radio warnings and violating other safety precautions. The lawsuit also blames the city, saying it controlled the waterway and should have known it was dangerous.

When the duck boat engine began to smoke, Fox shut if off and called the company for help. He also used his radio to call out a distress warning "multiple times," telling the tug boat to change course. The lawsuit says the captain ordered his 35 passengers to don life jackets before the boat was run over by the barge.

It claims the pilot suffered serious physical injuries to his head, back, neck, arms and legs.

Continue reading "Captain sues tug boat, city, in wake of fatal Philadelphia duck boat accident" »

The Ride the Ducks company, whose boat was involved in a deadly crash that claimed the lives of two students, will not return to the Delaware River, the Associated Press reported.

The New York wrongful death lawyers at Ronai & Ronai have filed suit against the company, the tugboat company and the City of Philadelphia after the fatal duck boat accident in Philadelphia. The disabled duck boat was anchored in the shipping channel with it was run over by a barge and sank to the bottom of the Delaware River. Thirty-seven passengers were thrown into the water. Hungarian students Dora Schwendtner, 16, and Szabolcs Prem, 20, were killed.

Attorney Holly Ostrov Ronai and Attorney Peter Ronai had asked the city to prohibit the boats from returning to the water and endangering the lives of more tourists until a complete investigation into the July 7 crash can be conducted. Instead, the city is apparently prepared to resume tours in March on the smaller Schuylkill River across town.

The company had initially intended to resume rides after the National Transportation Safety Board released its initial report, which occurred last month. As we reported on our New York Injury Lawyer Blawg, that report said the tug boat pilot did not respond to distress calls from the duck boat and warnings from other nearby vessels.

The new plan calls for the boats to enter the Schuylkill near the Water Works on a ramp that will be built by the company. The ramp will need city approval and will be paid for by the company, the Philadelphia Daily News reported.

Continue reading "Philadelphia Duck Boats to Operate on Smaller River after Fatal Accident" »

The U.S. Coast Guard rejected safety improvements to Duck Boats suggested by the National Transportation Safety Board in the wake of a 1999 accident that drown 13 riders in Hot Springs, Arkansas, according to CNN.

The law firm of Ronai & Ronai has filed a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the families of Dora Schwendtner, 16, and Szabolcs Prem, 20, who were killed in the Philadelphia Duck Boat accident on July 7. The boat became disabled and was anchored in a shipping channel when it was struck by a barge. The boat sank 40 foot to the river bottom, throwing 37 passengers in to the river. The lawsuit claims the boat was operated in an unsafe manner, lacked proper safety equipment and was poorly designed. The lawsuit also faults the tug boat company and the City of Philadelphia.

The original duck boat was an Army design used to transport troops and materials from warships to land during World War II. General Motors build 21,000 of the vessels, officially called DUKWs. Most were junked after the war but a few were converted for tourism. The Philadelphia boats are modern replicas build in Branson, Missouri. A total of 128 of the boats are certified to operate nationwide, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

The 1999 crash of the Miss Majestic, which claimed 13 lives when it sank in Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, resulted in several design changes being recommended by the NTSB, which investigated the accident.

Among the recommendations made by the NTSB --to counter what it said was an "unacceptable level of risk to passenger safety" -- was the installation of reserve buoyancy, such as the foam or watertight compartments used in modern boat construction. Investigators also found that several of the victims were trapped under the duck boat's canopies, which needed to be removed or modified to be easily removed in an emergency.

Wearing a life jacked actually increases the risk of being pinned in the canopy as the vest attempts to push a victim toward the surface.

Continue reading "1999 Duck Boat Crash Highlighted Risks Faced by Victims of Philadelphia Duck Boat Accident" »

A CNN article questioning the assertion that Duck Boats are unsafe somehow misses the main points of the wrongful death lawsuit filed by Ronai & Ronai on behalf of two students killed in the July 7 Philadelphia duck boat crash.

Peter Ronai and Holly Ostrov Ronai filed the lawsuit claiming the boats were unsafe and were operated unsafely on the day 37 tourists were run over by a barge after the Duck Boat became disabled and was anchored in a shipping channel. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Dora Schwendtner, 16 and Szabolcs Prem, 20, who were killed in the crash.

Inexplicably, the CNN article focuses on the fact that the boats have had just two fatal accidents in 50 years. Setting aside that assertion, which we are not even sure is correct, one of the primary arguments made in the lawsuit is that the boats are deadly in the event of an accident or emergency. In this case, that the fixed canopy prevents a timely escape, that safety equipment was not maintained, that flotation devices were not required for passengers and that it was operating outside the Coast Guard's approved limits.

The lawsuit has also been filed against the tug boat operator and the City of Philadelphia. As we reported earlier this month on our New York Injury Lawyer Blog, the initial NTSB investigation has determined that the tug boat did not respond to distress calls from the stalled Duck Boat or nearby vessels.

The owner of the Duck Boat company has attempted to use the NTSB findings to get clearance to resume operations. Since beginning operations in 2003, the Philadelphia boats have transported more than 1 million passengers on 42,000 tours of the city, according to a company statement.

The Ronais are against putting more tourists at risk until their safety can be assured. "There is no doubt that Dora and Szeb, on their first trip to America, thought they were safe when they boarded the duck boat. They had no idea they were on an accident waiting to happen," said Attorney Ostrov Ronai.

Continue reading "CNN's Duck Boat Fatality Statistics Ignore the Risks Faced by Philadelphia Duck Boat Victims in the Wake of Accident" »

A preliminary report issued on the fatal Philadelphia duck boat crash has been issued by the National Transportation Safety Board and found that the tugboat pilot did not respond to radio distress calls of the stalled duck boat or other nearby vessels.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that NTSB officials characterize the two-page report as a summary of factual findings and not a finding of fault.

As we reported last month on our New York Injury Lawyers Blawg, the personal injury and wrongful death law firm of Ronai & Ronai has sued the duck boat company, the tugboat company and the City of Philadelphia for the deaths of two students, Dora Schwendtner, 16, and Szabolcs Prem, 20

The disabled tugboat was run over by a 290-foot barge on July 7, throwing 35 passengers and two crew members into the water. The boat sank 40-foot to the river bottom.

The NTSB reports the duck boat entered the water about 2:15 p.m. About 10 minutes later, its captain shut the engine off after detecting smoke and issued an alert via VHF marine radio channel 13. He then ordered the deckhand to anchor in the river to keep from drifting while he placed a call to the duck boat company seeking a tow.

A recording nine minutes later by the Burlington County Bridge Commission reveals a warning being issued to the tug boat that the duck boat is broken down and unable to maneuver. Other calls of warning to the tug were also ignored.

An attorney and representative of the tugboat company would not comment to the media; the duck boat company claims the findings and radio recordings show its captain acted appropriately.

The NTSB's full report is not likely to be issued until next year.

Continue reading "Tug did not respond to radio distress calls in Philadelphia duck boat accident" »

News Radio 1060 is reporting that a decision on whether to permit the "Ride The Ducks" company to resume operating duck boats on the Delaware River could be issued within the coming days.

The rides have been suspended since July 7, when a deadly Philadelphia duck boat accident threw 37 people into the river after one of the boats was struck by a barge that was nearly the length of a football field. The personal injury and wrongful death law firm of Ronai and Ronai LLP, has filed suit on behalf of two students killed in the crash. The lawsuit against the boat company, the tugboat and the City of Philadelphia has been filed on behalf of Dora Schwendtner, 16, and Szabolcs Prem, 20. Additional information is available on our New York Injury Lawyer Blawg.

The news station reported that City Managing Director Richard Negrin was awaiting the preliminary report from the NTSB.

Attorney Holly Ostrov Ronai called the boats "death traps" in a letter urging the city to issue a moratorium banning a resumption of duck boat rides. She claims the boats lack sufficient buoyancy to remain afloat if they take on water and that the shade canopy can trap passengers in the event of an emergency.

Safety advocates have also called on city leaders to await the full report of the National Transportation Safety Board, which could take a year. However, city leaders appear set to ignore those pleas.

Continue reading "Results of preliminary investigation could be enough to put duck boats back in water after Philadelphia accident" »

The National Transportation Safety Board could release the results of the preliminary investigation into the fatal Philadelphia duck boat crash by the end of the month, FOX News reports.

And that could permit the duck boats to once again begin endangering the lives of passengers, according to New York accident attorneys Peter Ronai and Holly Ostrov Ronai.

The Ronais are representing the parents of Dora Schwendtner, 16, and Szabolcs Prem, 20; the two students were killed in the July 7 Duck Boat crash that sent 37 people into the Delaware River. The sightseeing vessel was rammed by a barge while anchored in a shipping channel. The boat sank 40 feet to the river bottom.

As we reported on our New York Injury Lawyer Blog, Holly Ostrov Ronai called the boats "death traps" in a letter urging the city to issue a moratorium banning the boats from city waters.

A wrongful death lawsuit also contends that the tour company provided no life vests to passengers and that the boats lacked basic safety equipment.

Yet, instead of waiting for the final report, it appears the company and the city are poised to rush the boats back into operation. The family of the victims could not even be left in peace to hold a small memorial service; instead, a duck boat floated past on a practice run as they put wreaths in the water in honor of their loved ones.

Continue reading "Philadelphia Duck Boats could Endanger Lives if Permitted to Resume Operation Next Month" »

A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against defendants believed responsible for the Philadelphia duck boat accident that claimed the lives of two students, the Courier Post reported.

The suit has been filed against Ride the Ducks of Philadelphia LLC, K-Sea Transportation Partners LP, a tugboat operator; and the City of Philadelphia, which owned the barge. New York injury attorney Peter and Holly Ostrov Ronai are representing both students killed in the crash.

Dora Schwendtner, 16 and Szabolcs Prem, 20, were killed when the 290-foot barge rammed the tugboat, throwing 37 tourists into the river and causing the boat to sink 40 feet to the river bottom.

The suit claims the duck boat failed to increase buoyancy in accordance with the recommendations of the National Transportation Safety Board; operated in violation of NTSB recommendations by having a fixed canopy that prevented timely passenger escape; failed to maintain safety equipment; failed to issue and require passengers to wear floatation devices, operated outside the Coast Guard's approved limit and failed to summon emergency assistance.

It also claims the tugboat failed to post a lookout and operated in a busy shipping channel with a blindspot; failed to monitor emergency radio channels and was deaf to the duck boat's distress calls. The lawsuit also claims the tugboat was operating undermanned and that crew members refused to cooperate with the NTSB investigation.

The Courier Post reports the engine of the duck boat overheated shortly after entering the river and the captain had anchored in the shipping channel to wait for help. The barge, which was being pushed northbound near the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, rammed the boat.

As we reported previously on our New York Injury Lawyer Blog, the Ronais have called for a halt to duck boat tours until the incident can be thoroughly investigated. However, the company continues to work with the Coast Guard to get clearance to begin hauling tourists once again.

Continue reading "Duck Boat Wrongful Death Lawsuit faults Tour Company, Tugboat, City of Philadelphia" »

The parents of Hungarian student-tourists Dora Schwendtner and Szabolcs Prem visited the site of the fatal July 7 Duck Boat crash this week. Having traveled from half a world away, to stand along the banks of the Delaware River, they were greeted by the sight of a passing Duck Boat.

New York wrongful death attorneys Peter Ronai and Holly Ostrov Ronai have moved aggressively to represent both families after the students, ages 16 and 20, were killed in the Philadelphia Duck Boat crash. The husband and wife team has called for a halt to Duck Boat tours until the horrific crash can be thoroughly investigated.

Instead, the victims' family members had to mourn their deaths in the shadows of a passing duck boat.

"We were down by the river and as we threw the flowers in for our children, we saw a duck boat pass in front of us," Aniko Takacs, the mother of 16-year-old Dora Schwendtner, told the Philadelphia Daily News. "I thought it was terrible."

A representative of the Duck Boat company said they were not aware of the visit by victims' family members. The parents floated a white wreath for Dora and a red, white and blue wreath for Szabolcs. Each was an only child.

Ride the Ducks is working with the Coast Guard to get cleared to transport passengers again.

The July 7 crash happened when a 250-foot barge crashed into the sightseeing boat. Thirty-seven victims were thrown into the river and the boat sank 40 feet to the river bottom. In a letter to officials, Attorney Ostrov Ronai called the vehicle's "death traps" that lacked sufficient buoyancy to stay afloat when taking on water. She also said the shade canopy can trap passengers in the event of an emergency.

Continue reading "Family of Philadelphia Duck Boat crash victims endure passing Duck Boat during Memorial" »

Attorneys for victims of the fatal Philadelphia Duck Boat crash are calling for the U.S. Coast Guard and the City of Philadelphia to prevent the sightseeing vessels from returning to the water.

New York Personal Injury Lawyers Peter and Holly Ronai are representing the families of two students, Dora Schwendtner, 16, and Szabolcs Prem, 20, who drowned in the July 7 Duck Boat crash. The husband and wife legal team has ties to the Philadelphia area and is also offering free and confidential appointments to anyone else who was injured or lost a loved one in the tragedy.

"The families are devastated," Peter Ronai told the Inquirer. "Dora's father wants the people responsible for this put in jail."

The crash happened when a 250-foot barge slammed into the sightseeing vessel, sending 37 people into the Delaware River. The boat sank 40 feet to the river bottom.

In a letter to officials, Attorney Holly Ostrov Ronai called the vehicles "death traps" and urged the city to issue a moratorium banning the amphibious vehicles from operating in the city's waters, according to NBC News.

The letter contends that the boats lack sufficient buoyancy to remain afloat if they take on water and that the canopy that shades passengers turns the boat into a dangerous cage in the event of an emergency.

Continue reading "New York Injury lawyers call for halt to sightseeing tours after Philadelphia Duck Boat crash" »