Two Killed When Duck Boat and Tour Bus Crash in Seattle

[steve...]

I lived a few blocks from there on N 40th street. It happened at 11:15 AM when traffic would have been lighter.

It sounds like it could have been a mechanical failure on the Duck. How old are those vehicles - 65 years old? I wonder if it had seatbelts.

[DeusxMac]

DUKW - 1942-45 - 6.5 short tons (5.9 t) empty in military configuration
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DUKW#Tourist_attractions


LARC (also used for civilian tours; see photos on link)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LARC-V

[Racer X]

Yeah, traffic at that time of day, on a weekday, not very heavy. I live just a few miles away, so does MAVIC.

The lanes seem very narrow, relative to an interstate highway. But they are 11 feet wide, the standard. But the outside lanes have about a 2' high curb, so you can't hug the outside. You get two trucks side by side, there is NO wiggle room.

[Racer X]

M A V I C wrote:
Not specifically armored, no... but it sure isn't a fiberglass boat.

1/16th to 1/8th inch thick sheet metal. Relative to a Honda, or even a '68 Buick, that's armored. To be honest though, an early MILITARY fiberglass boat that size would be at LEAST that heavy.

[OWC Jamie]

I'm sure 1/16th inch soft rolled steel would be real effective against those pathetic musket balls and black powder that were employed by those Lugers, Astras and Machinepistoles.

[Racer X]

Because the Japanese used SO many of those. These were considered 2 1/2 ton trucks, that floated.

I can here the drone of several 'copters over the bridge, circling, waiting for the 11 PM news.

[M A V I C]

Re: Traffic. It was really bad yesterday morning. With the Chinese President in town, many of the arterials were backed up outside of rush hour as well.