‘Safety is our number one concern': Ride the Ducks owner devastated after deadly crash



SEATTLE – After the crash, Ride the Ducks canceled all of its tours and had drivers return to home base.

Owner Brian Tracey said investigators will get to the bottom of what caused the crash but he’s focused on the victims, which includes one of his company’s drivers.

“It’s absolutely devastating,” said Tracey. “My main concern right now is for the people that were injured and the families of the people that died in the accident.”

Tracey said the touring company has been in business for nearly 20 years.

He added that both the DOT and the Coast Guard inspect all of his company’s vehicles yearly.

The boat involved in Thursday’s crash passed a Coast Guard inspection back in March and was deemed seaworthy.

The state Utilities and Transportation Commission also physically checks each one of the amphibious vehicles every two to three years; Ride the Ducks is due for a new inspection in October.

“Safety is our number one concern,” said Tracey.

Tracey said his company was fully cooperating with investigators.

“We feel horrible about it and we will find out exactly what happened. Hopefully this kind of thing will never happen again,” he said.

It is unclear when the business will reopen.