1:34
- ABC News
- July 21, 2018
9 family members among 17 dead in duck boat crash
Severe thunderstorms struck the area at the time of the Thursday night accident.
1:34
Allison Lester, who was on a nearby boat, told \"Good Morning America” Friday that the waters \"were rough.”
\"The wind really picked up bad and debris was flying everywhere,” she said.
Here’s the boat ?? pic.twitter.com/sWeZJAmG7g
— kp (@Tweetkourt_) July 20, 2018
Lester's boyfriend, Trent Behr, added: \"We actually heard the captain say the boat flipped or the boat was sinking.”
Behr said he saw a woman lying in the water.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/duck-2-rt-er-180720_hpEmbed_16x9_384.jpg\")
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/duck-3-sh-er-180720_hpMain_4x3t_384.jpg\")
\"We eventually did pull her up onto the boat,\" Behr said. \"She was unconscious. I was about ready to start CPR and the EMT did show up at that time.\"
Suzanne Smagala-Potts of Ride the Ducks Branson, the company involved in the accident, said in a statement, \"We are deeply saddened by the tragic accident.\"
\"This incident has deeply affected all of us,\" Smagala-Potts said. \"We will continue to do all we can to assist the families who were involved and the authorities as they continue with the search and rescue. The safety of our guests and employees is our number one priority.\"
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/duck-1-sh-er-180720_hpEmbed_24x13_384.jpg\")
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/white-rose-2-ht-er-180720_hpEmbed_13x7_384.jpg\")
“What happened here last night was a heart-breaking tragedy, and we must all work together to support the victims and their families,” Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said in a statement Friday. “The courageous efforts of emergency responders and civilian rescuers helped avert an even worse tragedy, as people rushed to help in extremely dangerous conditions. I was inspired by the stories I heard from some of those who were part of the rescue effort and tremendously encouraged by the strength of the family members of victims I met with today. We pray for all those who were affected by this terrible tragedy.”
President Trump and the First Lady \"extend their deepest sympathies to all those affected by yesterday’s boating accident on Table Rock Lake,\" White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement Friday. \"Our prayers are with the victims and their loved ones. We are thankful for the brave first responders and dive crews, whose quick and decisive actions have saved many lives, and we continue to pray for their safety as their search, rescue, and recovery operations continue.\"
“Since the incident occurred, the Administration has been in contact with Governor Parson and other State and local officials, and the President will continue to monitor and receive regular updates on the situation,” the statement added.
President Trump also expressed his condolences for the victims Friday morning on Twitter.
\"My deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those involved in the terrible boat accident which just took place in Missouri,\" President Trump said in a tweet. \"Such a tragedy, such a great loss. May God be with you all!\"
My deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those involved in the terrible boat accident which just took place in Missouri. Such a tragedy, such a great loss. May God be with you all!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 20, 2018
ABC News' Victor Oquendo, Scott Withers, Will Gretsky, Whitney Lloyd and Matt Foster contributed to this report.
","canonicalUrl":"https://abcnews.com/US/dead-missouri-duck-boat-accident/story?id=56704420","legacySlug":"/news/story/dead-missouri-duck-boat-accident-56704420","noIndexNoFollow":false},"publishTime":"09:40","publishDate":"07-21-2018","updatedTime":"09:40","updatedDate":"07-21-2018","socialImage":{"alt":"A video grab shows a tourist duck boat taking on water in a lake near Branson, Mo., July 20, 2018.","credit":"Courtesy Trent Behr","ratio":"16x9","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/duck-ht-2-er-180720_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg","width":992,"height":558},"datePublished":"7/21/2018 09:40:00 GMT","video":{"live":false,"id":56704420,"headline":"9 family members among 17 dead in duck boat crash","mediaAssetTitle":"DUCK BOAT MAIN","description":"Severe thunderstorms struck the area at the time of the Thursday night accident.","duration":"1:34","posterImg":{"url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/default-img-undefined.png","width":608,"height":342},"video":{"feed":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2018/07/180720_abc_duckboatMIX1_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8"},"playlist":["132055565","131830882","130993584"]},"relatedItems":[{"contentType":"video","date":"April 15, 2026","headline":"American influencer found dead in Tanzania","section":"News","slug":"/video/132055565","id":"132055565","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: American influencer found dead in Tanzania","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: American influencer found dead in Tanzania","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}},{"contentType":"video","date":"April 8, 2026","headline":"Ceasefire analysis, unanswered questions ahead","section":"News","slug":"/video/131830882","id":"131830882","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: Ceasefire analysis, unanswered questions ahead","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: Ceasefire analysis, unanswered questions ahead","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}},{"contentType":"video","date":"March 12, 2026","headline":"Winter whiplash plunges temperatures along the East Coast","section":"News","slug":"/video/130993584","id":"130993584","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: Winter whiplash plunges temperatures along the East Coast","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: Winter whiplash plunges temperatures along the East Coast","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}}],"relatedContentSection":"news","schemaContent":{"name":"9 family members among 17 dead in duck boat crash","description":"Severe thunderstorms struck the area at the time of the Thursday night accident.","duration":"1:34","uploadDate":"07-21-2018","publication":"07-21-2018","images":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/default-img-undefined.png","url":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2018/07/180720_abc_duckboatMIX1_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","contentUrl":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2018/07/180720_abc_duckboatMIX1_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","link":"https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/news/story/dead-missouri-duck-boat-accident-56704420"}},"playlist":[{"id":"132054443","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132054798","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132033010","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131912713","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131830583","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131834976","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131554765","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131554815","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131543053","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131432442","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131121474","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131247079","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131228784","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131178806","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131142257","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131046664","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131048076","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131033212","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"130999943","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"130971027","contentType":"story","section":"news"}],"kvps":{"pgtyp":"article","lang":"en","sp":"goodmorningamerica","programmatic":"true","bundleId":"com.abcnews"}},"analytics":{"accountID":"wdgnewwdgnewgmaweb","ns":"gma","pageName":"gma:news:video","pageType":"video","globalSpecVersion":"v1.08","siteDifferentiator":"gma:site","tagID":"g_page01","userABCookie":"0","section":"news","title":"9 family members among 17 dead in duck boat crash","pubTime":"05:40","pubDate":"07-21-2018","modTime":"05:40","modDate":"07-21-2018","taxonomyTags":"none","id":56704420,"editorialOtherSubjects":"","wordCount":"none","columns":"none","authors":"","authorsUnit":"none","authorsBureau":"none","subBrand":"Good Morning America","provider":"Good Morning America","videoName":"9 family members among 17 dead in duck boat crash","mediaAssetTitle":"DUCK BOAT MAIN","videoId":56704420,"mediaOnPage":"video","legacySlug":"/news/story/dead-missouri-duck-boat-accident-56704420"},"taboola":{}},"request":{"headers":{},"httpVersion":"1.1","method":"GET","url":"/video/56704420","vary":{"host":"www.goodmorningamerica.com","cached":true,"path":"/video/56704420","forwarded-proto":"https","device":"desktop","userab":"0"}},"viewport":{"width":1260,"height":0},"user":{}};