INDIANAPOLIS -- An Indianapolis woman who survived a duck boat accident in Missouri that killed 9 of her family members says in the moments after the boat sank she thought she was going to die.
Tia Coleman was on the boat with 10 of her family members when the storm hit, causing their boat to capsize and everyone to go into the water.
17 people were killed, 16 passengers and 1 crew member, according to the National Transportation Safety Board Friday evening.
READ | Community prays, donates thousands to Coleman family
Nine of those victims were Tia's family members.
- Arya Coleman, 1
- Maxwell Coleman, 2
- Evans Coleman, 7
- Reece Coleman, 9
- Glenn Coleman, 40
- Angela Coleman, 45
- Belinda Coleman, 69
- Horace Coleman, 70
- Ervin Coleman, 76
Tia and another young boy were the only two from the Coleman family to survive.
"I believe I survived by god and by good Samaritans," said Tia in an interview Saturday at Cox Hospital.
Tia said when they left the shore there was no concern over the incoming storms, although the crew did mention them.
"Before we left out they just said, there's a storm coming so go to the water first so you can avoid it."
Tia recalled the terrifying moments after the water overtook the boat, saying everything went silent when she went underwater. She said she remembers begging to die - until she felt herself float to the surface.
READ | Indy woman who lost 9 family members in duck boat accident: "I don't know if there is recovery from it" | Community prays, donates thousands to Coleman family
“I can't see anybody, I couldn't hear anything, I couldn't hear screams, it felt like I was out there on my own and I was yelling, screaming and finally I said, 'Lord just let me die, let me die, I can't keep drowning, I just can't keep drowning,' that's what I felt," Coleman. "Then I just let go and I started floating. I float to the top I felt the water temperature raise to warm. I felt the temperature rise I jumped up and I saw the big boat that sits out there, I don't know what kind of boat, it was huge though."
Coleman said when she got to the surface she could see people throwing out life jackets.
"I said, 'Jesus keep me just keep me so I can get to my children. Keep me, Lord.'”
Witnesses say the family may not have even been on that duck boat if it wasn't for a ticket mix-up.
Tracey Beck, of Kansas City, told the Associated Press that she saw the Coleman family waiting in line for the duck boat ride. After they stopped for their photo, she said a ticket taker realized the family should have boarded at a different location and reassigned them.
READ | Indy family loses 9 people in duck boat accident
The other victims were identified as:
- William Asher, 69
- Rosemarie Hamann, 69
- Janice Bright, 63
- William Bright, 63
- Leslie Dennison, 64
- Lance Smith, 15
- Steve Smith, 53
- Bob Williams, 73
TIMELINE | Tragedy at Table Rock Lake
Investigators blamed the stormy weather for the accident Thursday evening on Table Rock Lake. Winds at the time the boat capsized were blowing as hard as 65 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service.
Cell phone video obtained by Scripps affiliate KSHB in Kansas Cityshows the conditions the duck boat experienced during a storm early Thursday evening. The video shows waves rocking two duck boats. One made it back to shore. The other sank.
Tia works for the Marion County Prosecutor's office. The department released the following statement Saturday.
We are devastated by the unimaginable loss suffered by our friend and colleague Tia Coleman. The thoughts and prayers of our entire MCPO family are with Tia, her extended family and friends, and the other survivors of this tragic incident.
Governor Eric Holcomb released a statement Saturday morning offering up prayers and condolences to the Coleman family for their loss.
“Janet and I are stunned and heartsick over this tragedy. To lose so many loved ones in an instant is horrifying, and I cannot imagine the depth of pain the Coleman’s friends and family are going through now. I ask my fellow Hoosiers to join me in offering prayers and condolences, especially for the two survivors.”
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