2nd UPDATE — 4 confirmed dead, 12 critically injured as ‘Duck’ sightseeing vehicle, tour bus collide on Aurora Bridge in Seattle (VIDEO)

  • By The Associated Press
  • Thursday, September 24, 2015 1:28pm
  • News

By The Associated Press

VIDEO FROM Peninsula Daily News news partner KOMO 4 TV in Seattle.

SEATTLE (AP) — The latest on a crash between an amphibious tour vehicle and a charter bus in Seattle (all times local):

1 p.m.

The Seattle fire chief says four people died today (Thursday) at the scene of a crash involving a charter bus, an amphibious tour vehicle and two passenger cars.

Chief Harold Scoggins said at a news conference that 12 were critically injured, higher than previously reported. Many others received minor injuries.

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray says there were foreign students on the charter bus. Murray says efforts were being made to contact their consulates, but he had no other details.

Murray called the incident a “terrible tragedy.”

12:47 p.m.

A witness says she was walking across a Seattle bridge just after a charter bus and an amphibious tour vehicle crashed today (Thursday) and came upon a mess of jumbled metal and glass.

Jahna Dyer, a registered nurse, told The Associated Press that some victims were sprawled out on the pavement while others milled about seemingly in shock and falling down.

Authorities say the crash killed two people and critically injured nine others. Dyer says she stabilized the neck of an injured man and helped a woman who had a cut lip and glass in her eye.

Another witness, John Mundell says he was at the south end of the bridge when he heard a screech and twisted metal and saw what appeared to be a few dozen people on the ground.

Mundell says wanted to help the injured but “felt helpless.”

___

12:29 p.m.

Seattle fire officials say two people killed when a charter bus and an amphibious tour vehicle crashed were on the bus, as were most of the nine people critically injured.

Fire Department Lt. Sue Stangl says 12 people suffered minor injuries that would require hospital visits, and officials evaluated 30 other passengers on the vehicles who didn’t need further treatment.

Officials have not said what caused the crash Thursday.

The amphibious, military-style tour vehicles are operated by a tour company called Ride the Ducks and are known for exuberant drivers and tour guides who play loud music and quack through megaphones as they lead tourists around the city.

A man who answered the phone at the Ride the Ducks corporate office says the company had no immediate comment.

___

12:10 p.m.

Seattle fire officials say two people have been killed and nine critically injured in a crash between a charter bus and an amphibious tour vehicle in Seattle.

The crash occurred on a bridge over Lake Union late Thursday morning.

Harborview Medical Center spokeswoman Susan Gregg said the hospital expected to treat up to 10 of the most seriously injured victims, while as many as 15 others were being dispersed to other hospitals in the area.

The amphibious, military-style tour vehicles are operated by a tour company called “Ride the Ducks” and are known for exuberant drivers and tour guides who play loud music and quack through megaphones as they lead tourists around the city.

More in News

Code Enforcement Officer Derek Miller, left, watches Detective Trevor Dropp operate a DJI Matrice 30T drone  outside the Port Angeles Police Department. (Port Angeles Police Department)
Drones serve as multi-purpose tools for law enforcement

Agencies use equipment for many tasks, including search and rescue

Sequim Heritage House was built from 1922-24 by Angus Hay, former owner of the Sequim Press, and the home has had five owners in its 100 years of existence. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Sequim’s Heritage House celebrates centennial

Owner hosts open house with family, friends

Haller Foundation awards $350K in grants

More than 50 groups recently received funding from a… Continue reading

Operations scheduled at Bentinck range this week

The land-based demolition range at Bentinck Island will be… Continue reading

Weekly flight operations scheduled

There will be field carrier landing practice operations for aircraft… Continue reading

Jefferson County lodging tax committee to meet

The Jefferson County Lodging Tax Advisory Committee will discuss… Continue reading

Restrictions lifted on left-turns near Hood Canal bridge

The state Department of Transportation lifted left-turn restrictions from… Continue reading

Community Thanksgiving meals slated this week

Several community Thanksgiving meals will take place this week. They include: FORKS… Continue reading

Two people were displaced after a house fire in the 4700 block of West Valley Road in Chimacum on Thursday. No injuries were reported. (East Jefferson Fire Rescue)
Two displaced after Chimacum house fire

One person evacuated safely along with two pets from a… Continue reading

A Port Angeles city worker places a tree topper on the city’s Christmas tree, located at the Conrad Dyar Memorial Fountain at the intersection of Laurel and First streets. A holiday street party is scheduled to take place in downtown Port Angeles from noon to 7 p.m. Nov. 30 with the tree lighting scheduled for about 5 p.m. (Emma Maple/Peninsula Daily News)
Top of the town

A Port Angeles city worker places a tree topper on the city’s… Continue reading

Hospital board passes budget

OMC projecting a $2.9 million deficit

Lighthouse keeper Mel Carter next to the original 1879 Fresnel lens in the lamp room at the Point Wilson Lighthouse. (Elijah Sussman/Peninsula Daily News)