Four people have died after a duck boat and a charter bus carrying foreign students have collided in Seattle, Washington, officials say.
TV footage showed an amphibious “Ride the Ducks” vehicle smashed into the side of the bus on Aurora Bridge.
The four victims were foreign students from North Seattle College. Several people were critically injured.
Seattle Mayor Ed Murray described the crash as “a terrible tragedy”.
The tragedy happened at about 11:00 local time on September 24. Two smaller vehicles were also involved in the crash.
Most of the victims were on board the charter bus. Officials have not said which countries they were from.
Forty-five students and staff members from the school’s international programs were taking an orientation trip ahead of the school year starting on September 21.
Fifty-one people were taken to hospitals. Fire department officials said 12 had critical injuries.
“Today, the North Seattle College community learned devastating news that four of our students were tragically killed in a vehicle accident on the Aurora Bridge,” the school said in a statement.
“Additionally, several students remain in critical condition, and other students and a North employee sustained serious injuries.”
Government officials were working to contact next of kin.
A witness said the duck boat signaled to move left when it lurched and the front left wheel came off. It then clipped a vehicle before colliding with the bus.
Mayor Ed Murray said the company had voluntarily suspended trips for the time being.
“Ride the Ducks” tours, using vehicles which can drive on roads and float on water, are known for guides who play loud music and quack through speakers when leading tourist groups.
The amphibious vehicles have been involved in multiple fatal accidents.
Two people died when one collided with a barge in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 2010.
The “Duck” name is derived from DUKW, the six-wheel amphibious vehicles used by the US military during World War Two.
Country singer Willie Nelson’s tour bus is now for sale.
Rolling Stone magazine has confirmed the vehicle’s authenticity, with a spokesperson for the singer confirming that the bus belonged to Willie Nelson’s longtime drummer Paul English.
Tom O’Leary purchased the bus on eBay in 2010 “on a whim”.
“I’m not especially a Willie Nelson fan,” Tom O’Leary told Rolling Stone.
“I mainly just thought it looked cool. It needed quite a bit of work when I got it and I did it all myself: fuel systems, electrical, floors, plumbing.”
The bus belonged to Willie Nelson’s longtime drummer Paul English
Tom O’Leary says he only uses it twice a year, “mainly for NASCAR races and hunting trips” and that “it’s just time for someone else to enjoy it for what it is”.
“Due to the extremely high demand and the amount of offers being thrown at us for this bus, we have decided to take offers all the way to 12:00 AM central 5/3/2014 for this bus,” reads the ad.
As of press time, the current offer is $65,000.
The bus features a drawing of a bald eagle with outstretched wings on the back with the text, “Looking back at myself”. On a sign on the front of the bus, where the intended destination would be, is a simple, “We love Willie”. The ornate vehicle also features stained glass windows, red velvet curtains, a framed portrait of Jimmie Rodgers and Native American artwork. As the ad notes, the 1983 bus gets seven miles per gallon and has “four air conditioning units on the roof with heat as well.”
The bus had three owners before Tom O’Leary bought it.
Johnny Temples, one of Willie Nelson’s bus drivers in the Eighties, told the Dallas Morning News that the bus was named The Scout and was one of four buses on the tour, “along with Willie Nelson’s iconic Honeysuckle Rose, the crew members’ Warrior and the band’s Red-Headed Stranger”.
The bus was later renamed Me & Paul after Willie Nelson’s 1985 album of the same name.
“Willie rode that bus when he played dominoes,” Johnny Temples told the Morning News.
“But that was not his personal bus.”
In 2011, Willie Nelson’s 1986 Eagle 1 tour bus sold for more than $43,000.
Stockholm police have found drugs and a stun gun on board of a tour bus used by Justin Bieber.
Police spokesman Lars Bystrom said: “A small amount of drugs and a stun gun were found when officers raided the empty bus parked under the Globen concert venue in Stockholm.”
Lars Bystrom declined to identify the drug, saying it had been “sent to a laboratory for an analysis”.
No-one has been arrested.
Stockholm police have found drugs and a stun gun on board of a tour bus used by Justin Bieber.
Police acted after smelling marijuana coming from inside the bus when it was parked outside the hotel where the singer was staying.
The drug squad was alerted and searched the bus after it carried a group of people to the concert venue.
Police say there are no suspects, and won’t be taking the matter any further.
Justin Bieber, 19, is in Sweden on the European leg of his Believe world tour.
When he was in London in March, Justin Bieber caused controversy when he was late on stage for a concert at the O2 Arena.
A few days later Justin Bieber made headlines again when he confronted photographers outside his central London hotel.
Two people on a tour bus used by Baroness were badly injured when the vehicle fell 30 ft (10 m) from a viaduct near Bath in UK.
Emergency services were called to Brassknocker Hill, in Monkton Combe, on the B3108 at its junction with the A36 Warminster Road at 11:30 BST.
Two of those on board suffered multiple fractures and had to be freed by firefighters. Seven had minor injuries.
All remaining dates of the band’s European tour have been cancelled.
The group played at The Fleece in Bristol on Tuesday evening and had been due to appear in Southampton later.
Two people on a tour bus used by Baroness were badly injured when the vehicle fell 30 ft (10 m) from a viaduct near Bath in UK
Baroness’s tour promoter said: “It is with great regret that we have to inform you that Baroness were involved in a very serious road accident earlier today and will not be able to perform at Talking Heads tonight.
“Our thoughts are with the band at this time and we wish them and their crew a speedy recovery.”
Tim Bailey, from The Fleece in Bristol, said: “It’s awful for anybody but just knowing the band from last night and all the crew and how lovely everyone was – it was a real shock and we just really hope they’re OK.”
Baroness was formed in 2003 in Savannah, Georgia, and has toured throughout Europe and the United States.
They have also played at a variety of festivals, including Coachella and Bonnaroo in the United States.
An Avon and Somerset Police spokesman said the crash involved a coach which had left the road with about nine passengers on board.
One of the pair who suffered multiple fractures was taken to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol and the other to the Royal United Hospital in Bath.
The seven with more minor injuries were taken to the Royal United Hospital (RUH).
“Seven casualties moved to the Royal United Hospital will not leave hospital tonight,” an RUH spokesman said.
“They will be treated for their injuries into this evening.”
Eyewitnesses said they heard a loud bang and rushed to the scene.
Site manager Tony Cook, 61, was one of the first people to arrive as he was working at a property at the bottom of Brassknocker Hill.
Tony Cook said: “At the top of the hill it is quite windy so they were going quite slow and seemed to be taking it quite carefully.
“It was torrential rain – it was like one of these eastern storms or something, it was like a river down here.”
He added: “When we got down there the driver was hanging out of front of the coach, but his legs were trapped so we had to free him and get him back and comfortable.
“Then we got some ladders down there so that the people that were conscious inside could get out.
“We just got the people to the side of the road and made them comfortable and just helped.”
Another witness, from the Angel Fish restaurant on the viaduct, said the coach had “fallen off” the viaduct at the traffic lights.
Inspector Nick Hunt, from Avon and Somerset Police, added: “Police are investigating the circumstances of the accident. At this stage it is too early to tell what the cause was.”
Heavy rain in the area reduced visibility and it was not possible for the air ambulance to land.
The A36, which was closed between Bath and its junction with the A366 at Farleigh Hungerford for most of the day, has now re-opened.
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