Remembering the Ride the Ducks tragedy seven years later

BRANSON, Mo. - It's been seven years since tragedy struck Table Rock Lake.

On July 19, 2018, a "Ride the Ducks" boat sank during a storm. Of the 31 passengers, 17 died.

A National Transportation Safety Board report said local forecasts at the time included thunderstorm warnings, packing winds over 70 miles per hour.

Ozarks First spoke with one of the survivors just days after the tragedy.

Tia Coleman was visiting Branson from Indiana with her family. She lost nine of her loved ones, including a 1-year-old child.

"I couldn't see anybody, I couldn't hear anything, I couldn't hear screams," Coleman said in 2018. "It felt like I was out there on my own."

When the boat capsized due to the hurricane-like winds, it was difficult for people to escape. The canopy trapped people inside and survivors say the captain did not tell passengers to put on their life vests.

The captain, general manager and a manager with Ripley Entertainment were charged with involuntary manslaughter.

The case is still going through the courts. Judge Allen Blankenship dismissed the charges back in April of 2022.

"I just want to touch on basically to the victim's families, you have our condolences," Blankenship said in 2022. "Calling this a tragedy is a complete understatement. It was a tremendous loss of life and I'm sorry for what happened."

In response, former Attorney General Eric Schmitt re-filed the criminal charges to create a new case.

It's now a federal law for vehicles that can go on water and on land meet weather preparedness standards and new canopy regulations.

Since the tragedy, duck boat tours have returned to Branson.

The site of the "Ride the Ducks" attraction is now the home of Branson Top Ops.