A crash in Seattle left four dead and dozens injured on Thursday when a charter bus and a Ride the Ducks tourist boat collided on the Aurora Bridge in Seattle, Wash.
The crash occurred at 11:13 a.m. local time and 90 rescue workers were on scene to pull passengers from the wreckage. Fifteen are in local hospitals in critical condition, but Seattle Mayor Ed Murray said at a 6 p.m. press conference that 51 people total were taken to receive care for serious injuries.
Fifteen people are in critical condition in various local hospitals, according to, who spoke at a 6 p.m. press conference. In all, Murray said, 51 people were injured seriously enough to be taken to eight area hospitals. An hour before the press conference, a spokeswoman from Harborview Medical Center said that six of the eight patients at the top trauma center had been upgraded to serious condition.
The city is working with the State Department of Consulates, according to KIRO 7, as the number of countries involved in unknown.
The cause of the wreck is still unknown, but Seattle police are looking into the possibility of a mechanical issue on the Ride the Ducks vehicle. The National Transportation Safety Board has since sent 17 people to take over the investigation.
Ride the Ducks closed out of respect. Have suspended operations until they know more @KIRO7Seattle @HamKIRO7 pic.twitter.com/qAquLESDSH
— AMY CLANCY (@ClancyKIRO7) September 24, 2015
"I know there's a strong need for answers, but it's too early to draw any conclusions," Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O'Toole said in the evening press conference, according to SPI.
Chief O'Toole: "Too early to draw any conclusions as to the cause" of fatal Aurora Bridge collision. — Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) September 25, 2015
"We've had a terrible tragedy," Murray said. "There's been a terrible loss of life and several injuries."
Damaged Ride the Duck vehicle is loaded on a tow truck, charter bus is loading now. #DuckBoatCrash @KIRO7Seattle pic.twitter.com/8srHwesG6S — Alison Grande (@AlisonKIRO7) September 25, 2015
Temp bus lane on Westlake to help @kcmetrobus riders following #DucksBusCrash closure of Aurora Bridge. pic.twitter.com/1Zecno8ZQI — seattledot (@seattledot) September 25, 2015