Eight people are dead after a tourist boat crashed on Table Rock Lake near Branson, Missouri, according to multiple reports. Southern Stone County Fire Protection spokesman Eric Nielsen commented on the duck boat accident, saying more than 20 people were on the boat at the time it capsized. As a result, at least eight people died and more than 10 others were injured.
“We did have a severe thunderstorm, not sure if that is the contributing factor,” he said while addressing the media. “There is a lot of storm debris.”
From the report:
https://twitter.com/KARKMark/status/1020119304254046208
A spokeswoman for Ripley Entertainment, the parent company of Ride the Ducks Branson, said the company is in contact with their employees at the scene, said. Suzanne Smagala-Potts said the company recently acquired the vessel that was involved in the incident. There were other boats on the lake that returned to dock safely. Divers representing various agencies are on scene to assist with the investigation and recovery. At least six patients were treated at CoxHealth Medical Center, hospital spokeswoman Kaitlyn McConnell said.
There is no word on the nature of the injuries of the passengers who were onboard when the boat capsized.
This is a developing story. More information will be added as it becomes available.