Source: Christopher Capozziello / Getty
Investigations are underway after a duck boat capsized during a storm in southwestern Missouri last week, leaving 17 people dead. A GO FUND ME account has been set up.
Investigators are looking into questions about the accident, including ones about the weather, life jackets, the boat and the actions of the crew, officials said.
Tia Coleman and 10 of her relatives got on a duck boat to take a tour of Table Rock Lake during their family vacation. Only she and her nephew survived when the boat sank.
Her husband, her three children and five other members of her family died in the accident.
Tia says there were life jackets but they were told they didn’t need to put them on.
None of the victims who died were wearing life jackets when they were found, a source with knowledge of the investigation told CNN Sunday.
The duck boat contained life jackets, but passengers weren’t required to wear them, according to Stone County Sheriff Doug Rader.
Coleman said the captain mentioned the life jackets before they went on the lake.
“The captain did say something about life jackets. He said, ‘Above you are the life jackets, there are three sizes, but you won’t need them,'” Coleman said Saturday night.
A GO FUND ME account to help the family has already raised hundreds of thousands of dollars as of Sunday afternoon. Donations will be used to help offset funeral costs for the nine family members who died, according to the campaign’s description.
