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Duck boat legislation reintroduced to improve safety

Posted at 11:45 PM, May 29, 2019
and last updated 2019-05-29 23:45:45-04

INDIANAPOLIS — A duck boat tragedy killed 17 people including nine members of an Indianapolis family last July in Missouri. Indiana Congressman, Andre Carson, has introduced new legislation that would step up regulations on the water vehicles.

Among the improvements is requiring all passengers to wear a life vest while the duck boat is in the water.

"We must act now to update safety standards on these vessels to prevent future deaths," Rep. Carson, D-Indianapolis, said. "I work tirelessly to pass this bill in honor of the Coleman family and all that have perished as related to duck boats. We owe it to them to turn this tragedy into life-saving action."

Tia Coleman, who survived the accident and lost nine relatives in the boating disaster, released the following statement to RTV6:

"No other family should ever have to deal with the horrors of losing their loved ones in such a horrific way."